Melbourne’s $250k Gamble: Storm’s Legal Promise to Lomax Sparks Salary Cap Scandal
Melbourne’s promise to pay Zac Lomax’s legal bills could comeback to haunt them.
The Storm’s pursuit of Zac Lomax could come with an extra salary cap headache after they allegedly made a big-money promise to the gun winger ahead of his legal battle.
According to Dave Abby a social media user; If this has been proven, how many other clubs are trying similar tactics?
Is the NRL overdue for a larger scale external investigation?
What does this mean for the future of the game?
Can’t we please just have fair and honest footy matches without all the drama?
Melbourne’s promise to cover Zac Lomax’s legal bills in his protracted stoush with Parramatta, could come back to bite them, with NRL rivals keenly observing the situation to see if the amount will count towards the salary cap.
Lomax’s hopes of playing round one for the Storm were dashed, when his court hearing was scheduled to end a day after the AAMI Park clash.
Court documents reveal the Eels claim the Storm paid for Lomax’s court expenses, which could be worth around $250,000.
On or around 13 January 2026, or alternatively a time thereafter, the Melbourne Storm agreed to pay the legal costs of Mr Lomax to defend proceedings commenced by the Parramatta Eels against Mr Lomax to enforce the Deed of Release,” the Eels stated in one of their submissions.
The report claims that even if Lomax won the case and was awarded costs, it’s likely Parramatta wouldn’t be ordered to pay more than two-thirds of his legal bill.
If that happened, the Storm would pay the rest, which could also looked into by the NRL’s salary-cap auditor.
The NRL won’t make any determinations until the court has made its decision.
Parramatta took Lomax to court to prevent him from joining the Storm due to the star needing written consent from the Eels, being one year into a four year contract.
The incumbent NSW Blues winger was granted a release to join rebel rugby competition R360, but has been left in limbo after its inaugural season was put back until 2028.
