‘He’d be a very good rugby player’: Suaalii backs Lomax as NRL clubs baulk at swap deal

Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and All Blacks rival Jordie Barrett have both endorsed a rugby switch for Zac Lomax – and a lack of interest in pursuing a deal for Lomax at a majority of NRL clubs could push the Kangaroos winger into the arms of the 15-man game.

Lomax met with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and RA boss Phil Waugh on Wednesday to discuss a potential code-switch, following a settlement between the Parramatta Eels and the Melbourne Storm that determined Lomax could not sign with the Storm – or any other NRL club – without the Eels’ permission until 2028.

The Eels are open to striking a player swap deal for Lomax with rival clubs but nine rival clubs contacted by this masthead said they currently had no interest. Sydney clubs Manly, Cronulla, St George Illawarra, Wests Tigers, Penrith, South Sydney, the Bulldogs all had no appetite, and so too the Broncos, Gold Coast, the Dolphins and Canberra had no appetite.

Along with the Eels and Storm, that’s 13 of 17 clubs, and the disinterest could push Lomax towards rugby.

Suaalii, who made a high-profile defection to rugby from the NRL on a $5 million contract in 2024, played alongside Lomax in the NSW Origin team two years ago and said he was convinced the 26-year-old had all the skills and physical attributes to succeed in rugby.

“Zac, he’s a special player. You’ve seen what he’s done in league. I think a lot of rugby people would love for him to come across, but I’m not sure what he’s going to do,” Suaalii said. “But he can definitely play the game, I believe. I’ve only played one game with him, and I’ve played against him as well. He has the ability to do it.

“Zac has the aerial ability. He can kick a ball. He’s strong, he’s fast. He’s a very good rugby league player, and I’m sure that if he wants to come across, he’d be a very good rugby player as well.”

All Blacks star Barrett, who was speaking at Allianz Stadium to promote the Waratahs-Hurricanes clash on Friday night, said Lomax would be a welcome addition to rugby.

“Was he here [near Rugby Australia], was he? Interesting,” Barrett said. “I’ve seen a little bit in the media that he’s been dealing with some contract stuff, but he’s another quality player, good goal kicker, and who knows? The more quality players we have in the rugby union, the better, so why not?”

Lomax would have to accept a base contract of around $350,000-a-year in rugby – half of his wage at the Eels – but could earn more if he was successful and won selection for the Wallabies. It’s likely he would play for the Western Force.

Rugby Australia are interested in Lomax but are unwilling to break the bank, particularly after they recently signed Angus Crichton and extended Max Jorgensen on big dollars. Lomax’s lack of recent experience in rugby is also a consideration.

Suaalii said switching codes was harder than it looked – “it’s a completely different game” – but that it was achievable, and believed the global aspect of rugby would be an obvious selling point for Lomax.

The Eels and Storm maintained Lomax was likely to remain in rugby league, despite rugby’s interest.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said there had been “no active interest” from other clubs in Lomax, “but I’m sure at some point there might be interest in a deal for Zac”.

“Throughout the season, you’ll have injuries that happen, and clubs identify needs they originally didn’t they had,” Sarantinos said. “It would surprise me if at some point it didn’t happen. It just might not be immediate. And it doesn’t have to be a like-for-like player.

“If another club has a player who can be a regular contributor to our team week to week, and can help strengthen our roster, we’ll look at it.”

The situation could get interesting if the Perth Bears wanted to sign Lomax but have nothing to offer in exchange, given they are a start-up NRL franchise.

“We’re seeking an outcome that makes our roster stronger, and I’m not sure how Perth can deliver that right now,” Sarantinos said.

The Eels were offered a $750,000 transfer fee by the Storm, but with $450,000 of that to be spent on legal fees, leaving them $300,000 for things like junior development. Even then, that investment in their young players would not necessarily benefit the NRL side, with a good chance those same players would be signed elsewhere.

“It’s not like we’re cheering that Zac isn’t playing, but we made it clear from the start we needed to get a certain value in exchange to give our consent [for his release],” Sarantinos said. “But that was never delivered.”

Storm chairman and part-owner Matt Tripp remained hopeful a deal could eventually be struck that delivers Lomax to the Victorian capital.

“We’re disappointed, I won’t sugarcoat it,” Tripp said from LA on Thursday. “We offered the biggest transfer fee in the game to get him. We haven’t entirely given up on him joining us at some stage, but that ball will be in Parra’s court, and if there’s a way to make it happen, we’ll be up for it.”

Melbourne will finalise a shortlist of outside backs in the next fortnight, and have not ruled out signing a player this season should the pursuit of Lomax fail to bear fruit.