โThis is not a step we take lightly, but one weโre prepared to take to protect this club and everyone who stands with it.
โZacโs legal team have informed us in writing that they donโt agree with the terms of the release, and as such we have been left with no alternative but to enforce our rights in the courts.โ
Beach said Lomax requested a release from the Eels midway through 2025, nine months into a four-year deal, to pursue opportunities outside the NRL, specifically R360.
โWe agreed to that request in good faith,โ Beach wrote.
โIn doing so, we included clear and reasonable conditions to safeguard the club.
โZac accepted those terms. The agreement was formally documented and registered with the NRL. When the Melbourne Storm approached us late last year, we engaged respectfully and in good faith.
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โHowever, the offers put forward did not come close to representing fair value for our football program or our long-term interests.
โNo Parramatta Eels member, coach or player would expect us to accept an outcome that benefits a direct competitor without a fair exchange for value for your club.
โPrior to commencing the legal proceedings, we offered Zac an opportunity to work with us and his agent to explore Zac playing with one of the other 16 NRL clubs and to come to an arrangement that would result in us receiving a fair exchange of value.
โZac declined this offer, and as such we have been left with no alternative but to protect the clubโs rights in the courts.โ
The Storm were prepared to pay a $200,000 transfer fee, but the Eels wanted what they felt was a like-for-like representative player, such as Jack Howarth, Xavier Coates or Stefano Utoikamanu, in return.
If the matter had dragged on much longer, the NRL was prepared to step in to bring it to a head.
The Eels will be represented by Arthur Moses, while Lomax engaged top lawyer Ramy Qutami.
The Storm and Eels have been contacted for comment.
