{"id":398602,"date":"2026-01-08T00:14:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T00:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/398602\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T00:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T00:14:09","slug":"storm-eels-player-swap-floated-as-lomax-pushes-for-melbourne-move-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/398602\/","title":{"rendered":"Storm-Eels player swap floated as Lomax pushes for Melbourne move – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Zac Lomax<\/a> has been out of the NRL<\/a> for a couple of months now, but somehow continues to make headlines as his in-limbo career continues to generate controversy.<\/p>\n

The Parramatta Eels<\/a> currently hold the key to his NRL<\/a> career, after Lomax secured a conditional release from the club late last year.<\/p>\n

Now he wants back in with the Melbourne Storm<\/a>, and while the back-to-back Grand Finalists are keen on his services, the Eels aren’t budging.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Lomax is now looking to hire lawyers in a bid to secure a release from his commitments to Parramatta, it’s likely only a player swap between the two clubs would be enough to convince his former club to budge on their stance.<\/p>\n

Senior journalist Buzz Rothfield has sparked up rumours of one player swap in particular, taking to\u00a0X\u00a0to share what he’s been hearing earlier this week.<\/p>\n

\u201dJack Howarth<\/a> for Zac Lomax<\/a>,\u201d Rothfield posted on social media.<\/p>\n

\"NRLMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 09: Jack Howarth of the Storm warms up before the round one NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on March 09, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

While he didn’t reveal anymore than the bare minimum of the proposed trade, the swap itself would be hard for the Eels to push back on, if true.<\/p>\n

Howarth fills a gap on Parramatta’s edge that they desperately need plugged, while also providing the club with a long-term star that they can build around.<\/p>\n

If the Storm are serious about acquiring the NSW Blues<\/a> representative, they’ll need to give up some value, and Howarth may just be their most valuable asset in any transaction.<\/p>\n


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