11: 12 a. m. ET — Confirmed: Zac Lomax’s NRL career is in limbo because a clause in his Eels exit prevents him from signing with another NRL club until 2028 unless Parramatta grants its blessing. Unconfirmed as of 11: 12 a. m. ET: reports say Lomax has met with rugby union; whether Parramatta will waive the clause or another club will send a player of equal value will resolve his immediate options.
Wayne Bennett’s Remarks and the Souths Rejection
Confirmed: Wayne Bennett publicly said he will not make special rules for individual players and refused to consider signing Zac Lomax, answering “No” when asked if he was interested. Bennett reiterated, “I’m not going to bend rules and make rules for individual players, ” and framed the situation as a consequence of Lomax’s choices. Bennett’s Rabbitohs will open their season on Sunday afternoon in Brisbane against the Dolphins, a separate confirmed scheduling note linked to Bennett’s comments.
Still, Bennett’s stance constitutes a confirmed organizational rejection from one potential suitor; that rejection narrows immediate NRL pathways for Lomax unless Parramatta changes course.
Zac Lomax’s Contract Clause That Keeps NRL Option Closed Until 2028
Confirmed: Lomax has broken his last two contracts, including his most recent one with the Eels, and Parramatta demanded that any team wanting Lomax must send a player back of equal value. The Eels’ exit clause explicitly prevents Lomax from signing with another NRL club until 2028 unless Parramatta gives its blessing. The Storm were unable to meet Parramatta’s request in recent efforts to sign the outside back, a confirmed transfer breakdown described in team negotiations.
Yet, the clause creates a clear, observable trigger: Parramatta’s formal waiver or receipt of an equal-value player. If Parramatta grants its blessing, Lomax would be able to sign with another NRL club before 2028; if Parramatta holds firm, his NRL options remain legally blocked.
Steve Gillis’ Statement and Unconfirmed Rugby Contact
Confirmed: Lomax’s agent, Steve Gillis, has said that “nothing is off the table. ” Unconfirmed as of 11: 12 a. m. ET: reports indicate Lomax has met with rugby union representatives in recent days, but no formal rugby contract has been confirmed. The Storm’s inability to meet Parramatta’s demands is a confirmed reason the NRL route stalled; the presence of rugby interest is an unconfirmed development that could produce a definitive move if a contract is announced.
Still, the concrete resolution triggers are explicit: a signed rugby contract (unconfirmed), Parramatta granting its blessing (confirmed condition tied to the 2028 clause), or a rival NRL club sending a player of equal value to Parramatta (confirmed request from the Eels). Any of those events would change Lomax’s status in a clearly observable way.
Closing — confirmed next event: Bennett’s Rabbitohs open their season Sunday afternoon ET against the Dolphins. Conditional: If Parramatta grants its blessing, Zac Lomax would be eligible to sign with another NRL club before 2028; if Parramatta retains the clause without an equal-value exchange, Lomax’s NRL options will remain closed and a move to rugby would become the primary observable path forward (unconfirmed as of 11: 12 a. m. ET).
