In a surprising turn of events, both the Canberra Raiders and the Perth Bears have firmly rejected any claims suggesting they are interested in signing Zac Lomax. This denial comes after a court hearing revealed that Lomax's legal representative had purportedly presented these two clubs, alongside the Parramatta Eels, as potential new homes for the talented winger.
During the recent legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court, significant information was disclosed, indicating that by Christmas Eve, Lomax’s lawyer had named three clubs that might be keen on securing his services for the 2026 season. This revelation arose amid the ongoing legal battle between Parramatta and Lomax, which centers on an attempt to prevent him from joining the Melbourne Storm after he was released last year to participate in the postponed Rugby 360 competition.
Arthur Moses, the barrister representing Parramatta, stated, "Based on the evidence we have gathered from the documents provided, it appears that Lomax's lawyer reached out to our club to suggest three teams that might be interested in Mr. Lomax’s transfer. One of those teams was the Storm, while the others were the Bears and the Raiders."
However, outrage erupted from the Raiders regarding these assertions. Canberra's chief executive, Don Furner, expressed his disbelief, asserting, "This is utter nonsense. No one has mentioned Lomax; he hasn’t even been a topic of discussion for us. We lack the salary cap space, and we are not in the market for outside backs. I cannot fathom how such claims could originate. It’s simply untrue."
Furner further clarified, "There was no dialogue whatsoever with Lomax's agents, Clinton Schifcofske and Steve Gillis, concerning Zac Lomax. To suggest otherwise is completely false—100 percent inaccurate."
In addition, a spokesperson for the Bears confirmed that the club had made no overtures to Lomax regarding a possible deal.
As the legal drama unfolds, both Lomax and the involved clubs await further court dates, with the next hearing anticipated on Friday. The Storm remains optimistic that the proceedings will proceed as planned on February 12, ideally allowing Lomax to make his debut against Parramatta in the opening match of the season.
Meanwhile, Parramatta is contemplating whether the scope of their case might expand to include the Storm itself as a participant in the legal discussions, which could potentially delay proceedings until after the first round of games.
Justice François Kunc is expected to provide guidance on the scheduling of future hearings following the submission of additional materials later today.
