Melbourne and Parramatta are locked in 11th hour negotiations in a hope of reaching a deal which would allow Zac Lomax to join the Storm, a court has been told on Monday.
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The Eels’ legal showdown with the former winger has been delayed for an hour and a half while the two clubs are locked in talks.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
The Eels have taken legal actions against their former star winger to enforce the terms of his release and in turn block him from signing with the Storm without their written consent.
However when the two parties arrived at Sydney’s Supreme Court on Monday, Lomax’s barrister Adam Casselden SC told the court there had been negotiations overnight which were continuing.
Justice Francois Kunc told the court: “I always wish parties well to resolve their differences.”
The parties will return to court at 11.30am.
Lomax was not present as the parties arrived at court on Monday morning for the first day of the hearing.
Court documents detail the negotiations between the Storm and Eels including on January 2 when Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp refused to entertain a player swap proposed by the Eels.
Mr Tripp proposed a $100,000 transfer fee, which was upped to $200,000 a day later.
According to the court documents, the Storm made an offer for $300,000, with $211,000 to be in the form of salary cap relief and the remaining $89,000 to come in the form of a transfer fee.
Parramatta granted Lomax a release one season into a four-year deal after he expressed a desire to sign with R360, only for the rebel global rugby union competition to fall over and leave him in contract limbo.
MORE: NRL boss’ warning over ‘hung and strung’ Lomax as stunning $250k fallout revealed
“I want the best athletes in the world” | 01:15
He attempted to sign with the Storm but Lomax’s release included terms that the Australia and NSW Origin representative could not sign with another NRL club for the remainder of his contract period – up until 31 October 2028 – without the Eels’ written consent.
Lomax’s lawyers claim that the Eels breached the deed of release by unreasonably withholding their consent to Lomax joining the Storm.
His lawyers argued there was an implied term in the deed of release the Eels would not unreasonably block him from playing with another NRL club.
They also argue, in court documents, the Eels benefited from Lomax’s release, including by freeing up salary cap space.
They say the Eels sought “unreasonable and unrealistic” transfer fees during negotiations with the Storm.
The Eels have alleged on January 21, Storm CEO Justin Rodski texted NRL CEO Andrew Ando saying: “Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blow torch on Parramatta to get this done,” the text message allegedly reads.
According to the court documents, the message further read: “Lomax staying in the NRL is obviously a win for the game.”
“This message was an attempt to use the NRL to place pressure on the Parramatta Eels to resolve the matter on terms acceptable to the Melbourne Storm,” the Eels said in the court documents.