Wayne Bennett Firmly Shuts Down South Sydney's Pursuit of Zac Lomax
In a definitive statement, South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has categorically ruled out any possibility of the club negotiating a deal to sign star winger Zac Lomax. Bennett stressed that it is high time Lomax accepts the consequences of his contentious departure from the Parramatta Eels, underscoring a broader principle of accountability within the National Rugby League.
Legal Settlement Blocks Lomax's Move to Melbourne Storm
This development follows a significant out-of-court settlement reached on Tuesday between Parramatta and the Melbourne Storm, which effectively thwarted Lomax's planned transfer to the Storm. The settlement comes four months after the Eels released Lomax to join the subsequently postponed rugby competition, R360. As part of the agreement made in November, Lomax consented that he would only join another NRL rival for the remainder of his original contract with Parramatta if the Eels granted their approval. Parramatta remains open to striking a deal with a rival club, but any return to the NRL in the next two years would likely involve a complex swap arrangement or another club assisting the Eels by taking on an additional player to help manage salary cap pressures.
Bennett's Unwavering Stance on Player Accountability
When directly questioned on Saturday about South Sydney's interest in entering the market for Lomax, Bennett was unequivocal in his response, simply stating, "No." He elaborated by emphasizing that no individual player should be perceived as bigger than the sport itself. "I'm not going to bend rules and make rules for individual players," Bennett asserted. "The game has withstood so much pressure over a long period of time. I've been here that long, I've seen the best players the game's ever seen play. They've all moved on and we've still got a great game. The minute we think we can't be successful without a certain player, we're in a lot of trouble."
Support from ARLC Chair and Ongoing Rugby Union Interest
During his period in NRL limbo, Lomax has found an ally in Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys, who had been prepared to rescind the 10-year NRL ban he initially threatened to impose on players defecting to R360. In leaked text messages from the legal saga, Storm chair Matt Tripp urged the NRL to intervene and ensure a "win for the game" by facilitating Lomax's return to rugby league. However, Bennett, who is preparing for his 39th NRL season as a coach, remains steadfast in his belief that Lomax must live with the choices he has made. "We want to see good players in the NRL and he's one of those, but he's made a choice. He has to live with it," Bennett reiterated.
Meanwhile, Lomax was recently photographed leaving Rugby Australia headquarters, indicating that a move to the 15-man rugby union code is still a viable option. The 26-year-old has attracted interest from Super Rugby following R360's postponement, though any switch to an Australian rugby union franchise would likely result in a significant pay cut compared to his $700,000 salary with the Eels. A move to overseas rugby union could prove more financially lucrative, adding another layer to Lomax's complex career decisions.
