Storm, Eels Settle Lomax Transfer Dispute Until 2028

In a dramatic resolution to one of the National Rugby League's most contentious offseason disputes, the Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels reached an out-of-court settlement on Tuesday that blocks star winger Zac Lomax from joining Melbourne before 2028. The agreement, finalized in the New South Wales Supreme Court, leaves Parramatta with authority over any potential early return to the NRL for the New South Wales Origin representative, while the Storm agreed to cover $250,000 in Parramatta's legal fees.

Lomax, 24, had been granted a release from the final three years of his four-year, $700,000-a-year contract with Parramatta in November to pursue an opportunity with the breakaway rugby union competition R360, set to launch in 2025. However, the competition's inaugural season was postponed until 2028, stranding Lomax without a team and prompting his interest in rejoining the NRL with Melbourne. Under the terms of his release, Lomax had agreed not to sign with another NRL club without Parramatta's written consent until October 31, 2028, the end of his original Eels deal.

Parramatta initiated legal proceedings in the Supreme Court to enforce that clause after Lomax approached...