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The Melbourne Storm asked the NRL to intervene and “apply the blow torch” to Parramatta to release Zac Lomax to them, according to explosive court documents tendered to the Supreme Court.
The legal stoush between the Eels and Lomax has taken a nasty turn, with the Storm allegedly threatening the Eels that the NRL could impose punitive steps relating to its salary cap if the blue and golds didn’t accept their compensation offer.
Zac Lomax celebrates a NSW try.Credit: Getty Images
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 breakaway rebel competition R360, but has been left in limbo after its inaugural season was put back until 2028.
The matter is scheduled for a five-day hearing from March 2. That means there won’t be an outcome until after the Storm’s season opener against the Eels on March 5 at AAMI Park.
Fresh details about the backroom machinations have come to light following the release of a slew of documents.
It’s alleged that in a phone call between Storm chair Matt Tripp and Eels counterpart Matthew Beach on January 13, that the latter again rejected a $200,000 transfer fee.
“During the telephone call, Mr Tripp referred to the possibility of punitive steps being taken by the NRL against Parramatta Eels in relation to its salary cap if Parramatta Eels did not agree to the proposal being put forward by the Melbourne Storm,” according to a document the Eels tendered to the court.
“This assertion by the Melbourne Storm was intended or had the tendency to exert pressure on the Parramatta Eels in circumstances where the NRL had never communicated such a stance to the Parramatta Eels.”
The Eels raised the assertion in writing on January 22 with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, who denied the NRL had ever made such a statement to the Storm.
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It’s also alleged Melbourne CEO Justin Rodski texted Abdo on January 21: “Hi Andrew, not getting anywhere at this point, can you apply the blow torch on parramatta [sic] to get this done.
Rodski added: “Lomax staying in the NRL is obviously a win for the game.”
According to the Eels: “This message was an attempt to use the NRL to place pressure on the Parramatta Eels to resolve the matter on terms acceptable to the Melbourne Storm.” “During negotiations, this communication was not disclosed by the Melbourne Storm to the Parramatta Eels. It is not known whether any other communications have occurred between the NRL and the Melbourne Storm concerning the placing of pressure or otherwise on the Parramatta Eels to accept offers made by the Melbourne Storm.”
The documents show the Eels rejected offers of $100,000, $200,000 and $300,000 that were offered in the form of a transfer fee. Earlier this week, in a bid to break the impasse, the Storm again offered $300,000, but this time Melbourne said $211,000 was ‘in the form of salary cap relief’, with the remaining $89,000 as a transfer fee. Presented as a “best and final offer”, it was again rejected.
The documents don’t reveal how the $211,000 would result in salary cap relief.
It also emerged Lomax, on Christmas Eve, texted Storm stars Cameron Munster and Harry Grant about a prospective move south.
More to come
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