The legal dispute surrounding Zac Lomax has caused Melbourne Storm's boss to swap an executive suite in Las Vegas for a courtroom setting as the case unfolds.
Lomax, who departed from the Parramatta Eels, is pursuing a move to the Storm for the 2026 season via a NSW Supreme Court case.
The Eels contend that Lomax was aware he required their authorization to terminate his lucrative $700,000-a-year contract before joining another NRL team.
The Origin representative was permitted to leave in November in an unsuccessful attempt to join the controversial R360 rugby union competition, which has since been postponed.
One significant witness in the case is Storm chairman Matt Tripp, who had intended to experience the NRL opening match at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday.
However, his application to testify remotely while in the USA was denied during a brief court hearing earlier this week.
This means he must forgo a seat in the luxurious chairman's lounge for the event and instead spend hours in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday to provide his testimony.
Justice Francois Kunc mentioned that following his court appearance, Tripp could then catch a flight back to the U.S. to continue promoting his betting business, betr, on a tour that includes stops in Phoenix and New York.
Arthur Moses SC, representing Parramatta, indicated on Tuesday that Tripp's credibility would likely be challenged during the proceedings.