Zac Lomax Leaves Parramatta Eels in Search of New Opportunities
Rugby player Zac Lomax has been released from the remaining three years of his contract with the Parramatta Eels of the NRL. The news comes after speculation about his possible signing by the R360, an emerging league.
The club confirmed on Sunday the departure of Lomax, who will seek “opportunities outside of the NRL”.
This decision follows the departure of Ryan Papenhuyzen, star of the Melbourne Storm, who was also linked to the aforementioned competition, which is scheduled to launch at the end of next year.
Lomax, 26, joined the Eels from St George Illawarra after the 2024 season, with a deal reportedly worth around $700,000 annually.
The release of the NSW Origin player was agreed to by the Eels, on the condition that he not join a rival NRL club without their permission.
Attempts to lure Brisbane, NSW, and Australia star Payne Haas with a salary exceeding $3 million per season have been reported.
Despite attempts by the head of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys, to dismiss the concept as a “competition pulled out of a Corn Flakes box”, the NRL has threatened players and their agents with 10-year bans for defecting to the rebel league.
The premature departure of Lomax frees up space in the salary cap for the Eels, who recently re-signed winger Josh Addo-Carr and will have Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet arriving for a one-season cameo before his move to the Broncos.
