The Lomax Saga: A Legal Battle with a Twist
The highly anticipated legal showdown between Parramatta and Zac Lomax has taken an unexpected turn. With the NRL club locked in negotiations with rivals Melbourne Storm, a potential deal could see the star winger joining the Storm, bringing an end to the legal saga. The Eels and Lomax's lawyers arrived at the NSW Supreme Court on Monday for a seven-day hearing, but negotiations took an unexpected turn.
The Storm, led by chairman Matt Tripp, proposed a $100,000 transfer fee, which was later increased to $200,000. However, the Eels' lawyers argued that the Storm's offer of $300,000, with $211,000 in salary cap relief and $89,000 in transfer fee, was unreasonable. The Eels claim that the Storm's chief executive, Justin Rodski, attempted to use the NRL to pressure the Eels into accepting the deal. The Eels' legal team also argued that the Eels benefited from Lomax's release, including by freeing up salary cap space.
The court documents detail the negotiations, including a message from Rodski to NRL chief executive Andrew Ando, stating, 'Lomax staying in the NRL is obviously a win for the game.' The Eels alleged that this message was an attempt to use the NRL to pressure them into accepting the deal. The hearing was scheduled to run this week, with further sitting days on March 13 and 17. A deal between the Eels and Storm could potentially open the door for Lomax to turn out against his former club, though Parramatta could ask for him to be made unavailable until round 2.
The Lomax saga has been a complex legal battle, with the Eels enforcing the terms of his release from his $700,000-a-year deal and blocking him from signing with the Storm without their written consent. The negotiations and legal proceedings have been a rollercoaster, with the parties locked in talks until the last minute. The outcome of the hearing will determine the future of the Lomax saga and the potential deal between the Eels and Storm.
