In a dramatic turn of events, Zac Lomax's ambitious attempt to join Melbourne has been thwarted, as he agreed to let Parramatta dictate his NRL future for the next two years.
The conclusion of this significant off-season saga in the NRL came with an out-of-court settlement reached today between the Storm and the Eels, empowering Parramatta to decide on Lomax's return to the league before 2028.
As part of the settlement, the Storm must pay Parramatta $250,000 in legal fees resulting from its unsuccessful efforts to secure Lomax, who had committed to not signing with an NRL competitor after the Eels had let him go to join R360 in 2025.
Following the delay of the new rugby competition's launch, Lomax made moves to align with the Storm, prompting Parramatta to initiate legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court.
However, a resolution was reached before a comprehensive hearing could commence, which was set to begin yesterday.
Although Lomax was absent from court today, he will have the opportunity to return to the NRL in the 2028 season, coinciding with the conclusion of his contract with the Eels.
AAP