Craig Bellamy, the coach of Melbourne Storm, has expressed his disappointment regarding the absence of Zac Lomax for the upcoming 2026 season.
Following a legal dispute between the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm, it has been determined that Lomax will not join the NRL until 2028.
In a recent press conference, Bellamy shared his feelings about the decision, emphasizing his hopes for Lomax's future in the league.
"That's the decisions being made now, I think. So at the end of the day, we're obviously disappointed that we couldn't get Zac here," Bellamy said.
He praised Lomax's talent both on and off the field, stating, "He's a quality player, but even more than that, he's a quality person; he's a really good kid. I thought he would have fit in here really well. But more than anything else, you know, we're disappointed for him."
Bellamy also reflected on the unclear future for Lomax, saying, "I'm not quite sure what happens now with him."
He added, "I'm just disappointed for him, and hopefully it works out, and he's playing again somewhere soon."
As tension rises between the two clubs ahead of their Thursday meeting, Bellamy addressed whether the legal issues might influence their on-field encounter.
"We haven't really spoken about that at the end of the day, that's off-field stuff, tomorrow night is on-field stuff, so yeah, it's different."