The Storm were hopeful of recruiting Lomax, but negotiations soured before a court battle began \u2014 which ultimately cost Melbourne $250,000 in legal fees paid to the Eels.<\/p>\n
In the end, Parramatta and Melbourne powerbrokers were unable to strike a deal, with the Daily Telegraph\u2019s David Riccio revealing it was Matterson who proved the deciding factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ryan Matterson factor is the biggest factor, it\u2019s the mitigating factor,\u201d Riccio said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially there was a $300,000 offer put to the Parramatta Eels and on top of that the Storm were willing to cover $410,000 of Ryan Matterson\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a one year deal with an option of a second.<\/p>\n
\u201cRyan wanted the guarantee of a second year, not just the option. The Storm would not guarantee the second year and it\u2019s fallen over because Ryan won\u2019t go to the Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Code Sports then reported Melbourne were \u201cshocked\u201d by Matterson\u2019s stance believing they had already \u201cbent over backwards\u201d for him.<\/p>\n
Matterson, 31, played eight games for the Warrington Wolves in 2025 on a loan deal, but has returned to the Eels to see out the final year of his $700,000 contract. <\/p>\n
The second-rower on Wednesday hit out at suggestions he was to blame for the deal collapsing. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor several weeks I have been away from the club managing concussion symptoms under the care of a neurologist who has guided me throughout my ten year career,\u201d Matterson said in a statement posted on his Instagram account.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring this time, a deal that did not directly involve me was negotiated for several months by Parramatta and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver this period I was not once formally consulted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first official notification I received from anyone came last Friday from Melbourne Storm, for which brief discussions were held and concluded the same day.<\/p>\n
![\"Crichton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/c5bf213c78411a8d0e66a01a56dcd70e.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t until Sunday afternoon where a deal was tabled and I was expected to make a career-defining decision hours before a high profile court hearing the following morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect both clubs and hold no ill will toward anyone involved, including Zac.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, it has been difficult to see the public narrative unfold in a way that suggests I was central to a process I was not part of, particularly without being given prior notice or reasonable time to consider a decision of this magnitude, whole also managing a serious head injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not part of these negotiations. Yet, it seems I am the one being held responsible for the outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was the last to know and the first to be blamed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nine Newspapers<\/a> have now reported that the Storm offered two of their own players during negotiations to get Lomax: Josiah Pahulu or Lazarus Vaalepu, two fringe front-rowers. Pahulu was an off-season recruit not selected for Round 1, who has played 22 NRL games, while Vaalepu has 11 first-grade games to his credit but was also not picked for Thursday night\u2019s season-opening game against the Eels at AAMI Park.<\/p>\n The Eels, meanwhile, were praised for standing their ground during the legal saga, with Fox League\u2019s Paul Crawley declaring Tuesday\u2019s developments a \u201cwin\u201d for the club.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere? What have they got to show for it,\u201d Riccio responded<\/p>\n To which NRL360 host Braith Anasta replied<\/a>: \u201crespect, dignity, credibility. They have stuck to their guns\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the Parramatta administration, this is a club that for decades has lacked leadership, and Matthew Beach and Jim Sarantinos deserve so much credit for doing the right thing by their club, by their football team and by the game,\u201d Crawley then continued.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be the making of Parramatta as a premiership force again.\u201d<\/p>\n Riccio, however, argued the Eels were a weaker team since Lomax\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are down an Origin player, they are currently down an Origin player,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what they wanted, they wanted a player.\u201d<\/p>\n Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis then hit, declaring the Eels made a statement to the competition.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you give an Origin player to a club that has played in 10 grand finals… that\u2019s the loss,\u201d Tallis said.<\/p>\n Anasta echoed the opinion: \u201cThat would have been a loss… they are happy to honour the contract, they didn\u2019t want to take a second tier player from Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t want to give Melbourne a loaded gun with one of their best players who decided to walk out on them, to compete against them not only in Round 1 but as premiership threats.<\/p>\n \u201cParramatta look great at the moment, I love what they\u2019re doing. A lot of what they\u2019re doing on the field has to do with what they are doing off it and the stance they are taking.<\/p>\n \u201cThe coach they have hired and they are backing themselves, that to me says a lot to the playing group as well.<\/p>\n \u201cKnowing that \u2018you know what? You want to play with us, you play with us\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Attention then turned to Lomax himself, with the panel turning the blowtorch on the representative star and his management for chasing R360.<\/p>\n \u201cThere needs to be some accountability taken by him and his team here, I would never put my player in a position like that,\u201d Anasta said. <\/p>\n \u201cBut if you peel it all back, it was high risk from the get go. There was nothing there and Peter V\u2019landys said it himself.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a risk of your playing not returning for 10 years, and you\u2019re happy with that? You\u2019re gambling, they went all in and they got a duck egg.\u201d<\/p>\n