Wayne Bennett has drawn a firm line in the sand over Zac Lomax, declaring Zac Lomax needs to deal with the consequences of his messy departure with the Parramatta Eels.
Amid growing speculation regarding Lomax's playing future, the veteran coach emphasizes that rules must not be bent for individuals, even for talented players like the former NSW and Kangaroos representative.
This week, Parramatta and Melbourne concluded their legal dispute with an out-of-court settlement, effectively ending Lomax's potential move to the Storm. As a result, the winger is barred from entering into an NRL contract until after 31 October 2027 without consent from the Eels.
Wayne Bennett, coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, stated clearly to the AAP that his team is not considering Lomax.
The 76-year-old gave a blunt answer.
"No," he said.
Despite the NRL's strong support for Lomax's return, Bennett insists that the integrity of the sport must take precedence over the interests of any single player.
"The game has withstood so much pressure over a long period of time."
"I've been here that long, I've seen the best players the game's ever seen play."