NSW Origin prop Mitchell Barnett shapes as a key signing target for Parramatta – irrespective of Zac Lomax’s next move – as Jason Ryles continues one of the NRL’s most dramatic roster overhauls.
The Eels coach and his players were on the training paddock when Lomax and the club reached an out-of-court settlement to the representative star’s contract saga and tense negotiations with round one rivals Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
Parramatta will retain final rights over Lomax’s ability to return to the NRL before 2028 – with the club’s written consent required for him to sign for any rival club.
The Eels have insisted throughout the contract spat that they wanted a replacement player rather than financial compensation, knocking back the Storm’s offer of a $750,000 transfer fee after Ryan Matterson rejected a proposed move to Melbourne.
Several NRL rivals have adopted a wait-and-see approach regarding Lomax given the courtroom developments, while the Warriors will only consider a player swap before agreeing to release Barnett this season.
The Kiwi club will grant Barnett permission to return to Australia on compassionate grounds at the end of 2026, and Parramatta had registered their interest with the 31-year-old’s management before the latest Lomax developments.
Mitchell Bennett is in Parramatta’s sights.Credit: Getty Images
Brisbane, Newcastle and Manly are among the other NRL clubs monitoring Barnett’s future.
Any suggestion of a Lomax-Barnett player swap between the Eels and Warriors is premature given the suggestion is yet to be broached by the clubs.
But Ryles confirmed a front-rower of Barnett’s calibre would be a welcome addition as the club continues 2027 extension talks with veteran prop Junior Paulo – at a significantly cheaper rate than the last year of his current contract, which is worth more than $900,000.
“Certainly, [Barnett] is someone we’d potentially look at,” Ryles said on Tuesday. “He’s an Origin forward. I think that’s an area of our roster that we can certainly improve or strengthen. There’s probably a better word than improve, strengthen. I think us, like many clubs, will be obviously looking in that space.”
Eels coach Jason Ryles was all smiles on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
As Ryles prepares for his second NRL season in charge with another season opener against his former club, just six players remain from the Eels side that took the paddock in May 2024 for Brad Arthur’s last game.
Ryles was largely kept at arm’s length from the Lomax contract imbroglio and the Eels did not call on his previous relationships at Melbourne – he was Craig Bellamy’s assistant across two separate stints – to try and find common ground.
Asked if the Lomax saga was the most difficult of numerous contract calls throughout Parramatta’s rebuild, Ryles agreed, but said: “Honestly, I don’t actually feel too much because we’re on to preparing for a game this week.
“It’s just one of those things when players move on, the place [club] moves on really quickly. That’s happened since I’ve played, and it still happens now that I’m a coach. My head’s in a completely different space and that’s getting ready for this weekend’s game. I’ll definitely reflect on it.”
Jason Ryles addresses the media on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Given Lomax was released from the club in November, Paulo insisted the summer’s legal wrangling had not been a distraction for players.
“I think the biggest thing is the integrity of Zac and his mental space at the moment,” Paulo said. “He’s got the full backing and support of Melbourne, so that’s all that really matters.”
After extensive wheeling and dealing and the exits of several stalwarts headlined by Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Dylan Brown and Shaun Lane, Ryles unsurprisingly heralded “stability” as the biggest difference in Parramatta’s lead-in to 2026.
With former Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet joining Mitchell Moses in the halves after Parramatta’s promising finish to last season, the Eels are a vastly different proposition to the side that were thrashed 56-18 by Melbourne this time last year.
“You never finish, you never stop evolving,” Ryles said. “A side like Melbourne who has been at the top for 20-odd years under Craig is still evolving and still improving. We chase perfection but we never get there.”
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