Zac Lomax signs deal with PNG Chiefs for 2028 NRL

Zac Lomax has signed a three-year contract to return to rugby league with the expansion Papua New Guinea Chiefs, commencing in the 2028 NRL season. The 27-year-old dual-code athlete, currently playing rugby union for the Western Force, was unveiled to fans in Port Moresby on Sunday, July 26, 2026, committing to the franchise's inaugural campaign.

Lomax's move marks a swift return to the NRL after a brief stint in rugby union. He joined the Western Force earlier this year on a two-year deal, making seven Super Rugby Pacific appearances before being sidelined by an osteitis pubis injury since May. His new contract with the Chiefs will see him remain with the Force before joining the PNG squad for its inaugural preseason late in 2027.

The signing concludes a period of contractual uncertainty for Lomax. He had previously walked out on a three-year deal with the Parramatta Eels in 2025 to join the proposed rugby union competition R360. When that league's launch was delayed, a legal battle ensued, with Parramatta ultimately blocking a subsequent move to the Melbourne Storm and retaining his NRL rights through 2027. His release to join the Chiefs resolves that situation.