Zac Lomax’s landmark hearing before the NSW Supreme Court has been delayed on Monday morning as NRL rivals Parramatta and Melbourne stage last-minute negotiations in a bid to resolve his future and avoid court proceedings.
Justice Francois Kunc granted a 90-minute adjournment requested by Lomax’s solicitor Adam Casselden, before proceedings began in a court case set to dominate the lead-up to Thursday’s clash between the Storm and Eels.
Former Eels star Zac Lomax remains at the centre of a contact dispute.Credit: Getty Images
Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos, chairman Matthew Beach and football manager Mark O’Neill were in attendance on Monday morning before the court was informed that overnight negotiations between the Eels and Storm had continued in the hope of resolving the matter.
Parramatta Eels National Rugby League CEO Jim Sarantinos (right) and football manager Mark O’Bneill (left) arrive at the Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Lomax was not present for the commencement of proceedings.
Lomax wants a new home with Melbourne, effective immediately, after being granted a release from Parramatta last year to take up a code-hop to the since-delayed Rugby 360 competition.
The Eels claim the winger agreed that he couldn’t return to the NRL with a rival club before October 31, 2028, without Parramatta’s written agreement per the terms of his release from the final three years of his $700,000-a-year Eels contract.
Melbourne has since attempted to sign Lomax without Parramatta’s consent, with lengthy negotiations involving suggested player swaps and transfer fees failing to resolve the impasse.
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