NRL 2026: Ryan Matterson sinks Zac Lomax deal between Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels, legal dispute settled, NRL360 opinion, Braith Anasta, news, videos, highlights

Zac Lomax’s move to the Melbourne Storm was reportedly derailed by former teammate and ex-NSW Origin player Ryan Matterson.

Lomax settled his legal battle with the Eels on Tuesday, agreeing he would not return to the NRL before the 2028 season without their consent, as per the terms of his release.

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The Storm were hopeful of recruiting Lomax, but negotiations soured before a court battle began — which ultimately cost Melbourne $250,000 in legal fees paid to the Eels.

In the end, Parramatta and Melbourne powerbrokers were unable to strike a deal, with the Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio revealing it was Matterson who proved the deciding factor.

“The Ryan Matterson factor is the biggest factor, it’s the mitigating factor,” Riccio said on NRL 360.

“Initially there was a $300,000 offer put to the Parramatta Eels and on top of that the Storm were willing to cover $410,000 of Ryan Matterson’s contract.

“It was a one year deal with an option of a second.

“Ryan wanted the guarantee of a second year, not just the option. The Storm would not guarantee the second year and it’s fallen over because Ryan won’t go to the Storm.”

Code Sports then reported Melbourne were “shocked” by Matterson’s stance believing they had already “bent over backwards” for him.

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The Eels, meanwhile, were praised for standing their ground during the legal saga, with Fox League’s Paul Crawley declaring Tuesday’s developments a “win” for the club.

“Where? What have they got to show for it,” Riccio responded

To which NRL360 host Braith Anasta replied: “respect, dignity, credibility. They have stuck to their guns”.

“For the Parramatta administration, this is a club that for decades has lacked leadership, and Matthew Beach and Jim Sarantinos deserve so much credit for doing the right thing by their club, by their football team and by the game,” Crawley then continued.

“It could be the making of Parramatta as a premiership force again.”

Riccio, however, argued the Eels were a weaker team since Lomax’s departure.

“They are down an Origin player, they are currently down an Origin player,” he said.

“That’s what they wanted, they wanted a player.”

Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis then hit, declaring the Eels made a statement to the competition.

“Why would you give an Origin player to a club that has played in 10 grand finals... that’s the loss,” Tallis said.

Anasta echoed the opinion: “That would have been a loss... they are happy to honour the contract, they didn’t want to take a second tier player from Melbourne.

“They didn’t want to give Melbourne a loaded gun with one of their best players who decided to walk out on them, to compete against them not only in Round 1 but as premiership threats.

“Parramatta look great at the moment, I love what they’re doing. A lot of what they’re doing on the field has to do with what they are doing off it and the stance they are taking.

“The coach they have hired and they are backing themselves, that to me says a lot to the playing group as well.

“Knowing that ‘you know what? You want to play with us, you play with us’.”

Attention then turned to Lomax himself, with the panel turning the blowtorch on the representative star and his management for chasing R360.

“There needs to be some accountability taken by him and his team here, I would never put my player in a position like that,” Anasta said.

“But if you peel it all back, it was high risk from the get go. There was nothing there and Peter V’landys said it himself.

“There was a risk of your playing not returning for 10 years, and you’re happy with that? You’re gambling, they went all in and they got a duck egg.”

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