Zac Lomax has agreed that he wonโt return to the NRL until the 2028 season after coming to an out-of-court settlement with Parramatta.
The impasse between the parties is finally over, after Melbourne also agreed to pay $250,000 of the Eelsโ legal costs. It means the protracted and potentially damaging lawsuit is over, just as Parramattaโs legal representative, Arthur Moses SC, was poised to deliver his opening submissions on Tuesday morning.
Zac Lomax leaves the Supreme Court on Monday.Credit: AAP
The biggest material change is that Lomax canโt return to the NRL – without Parramattaโs express written permission – until October 31, 2027. Under the initial terms of the release granted by Parramatta, that timeline was October 31, 2028.
It means that Lomax can return to the NRL 12 months earlier than originally slated, but he remains in rugby league purgatory until then.
Parramatta commenced legal proceedings to prevent Lomax from joining the Storm, given his release from a four-year contract was contingent on the Eels providing written consent. The Blues winger was granted a release to join rebel rugby competition R360, but has been left in limbo after its inaugural season was put back until 2028.
The cessation of the case is unlikely to take the sting out of the opening-round clash between Parramatta and Melbourne on Thursday.
The Eels were adamant they would not accept any deal that adversely affected their football department. They had previously knocked back offers of $100,000, $200,000, and a final one of $300,000, which included a $211,000 salary cap component to subsidise the wage of Ryan Matterson. The out-of-favour forward has inadvertently become collateral damage at a time when his own future is clouded after again suffering concussion-type symptoms.
More to come.
