The Eels’ decision to cut ties with Zac Lomax has been hailed as a masterstroke as details emerge about why Parramatta’s coach axed him.
Cooper Cronk has praised Parramatta’s decision to part ways with NSW winger Zac Lomax as another strong move from coach Jason Ryles aimed at resetting the club’s “culture”.
This week Lomax was released from the remaining three years from his deal at Parramatta, just one year into a contract that saw him earn around $650,000 after moving from St George Illawarra.
The 26-year-old is widely expected to join rebel rugby union competition R360 when it kicks off in November next year, and could ply his trade playing the 15-man code in Japan or America until then after being sent into the NRL wilderness.
Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen are set to be the highest profile players to join R360, with the latest reports that Broncos prop Payne Haas is weighing up a tax free $3 million offer but is leaning towards staying in the NRL.
NRL boss Peter V’landys has threatened any player who joins R360 with a 10-year ban from playing in the NRL.
Speaking on the Fox League podcast, Cronk said: “I’d be very interested if it comes to fruition and if Peter V’landys still hands down that 10-year ban, because if I’m a player there’s obviously ways around it.
As for NRL players considering their future, the six-time grand final winner said: “Ultimately it comes down to your heart and what you want to do.”
Cronk echoed V’landys sentiment that players leaving the NRL for R360 would want to see some form of financial guarantee upfront.
“The fact that clubs are letting these players go … seems to me that they’re not required beyond what they’re doing at the moment,” Cronk said.
“If I was a coach and had Papenhuyzen and Lomax and wanted to win a comp the next year, these two are elite players of our competition.
“But the fact they’ve let them go means they might be surplus to needs.
“You’d imagine those two players would be wanted by their clubs but the fact they’ve let them go at the early stage of the contract extension with Zac … geez I hope for his sake he’s got that money at R360 in the bag.”
Lomax’s R360 deal is worth a reported USD $1.5 million a season and could include massive tax breaks depending on where his team is based.
Not allowing Lomax to play out the 2026 season has been lauded as a strong move from Ryles, who has overhauled his roster since taking over from Brad Arthur as coach, letting veterans Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard go.
“I reckon Jason Ryles has shown a lot of maturity here,” Tigers great Steve Roach said.
“To buy a player from Saints, come to Parramatta and all of a sudden he’s one of your best players. To have the maturity to say we’re going to let you go.
“You’ve got to tip your cap to Jason Ryles,” Cronk concurred.
“First year coach, arrived at the Parramatta Eels, when you’re making decisions on your own career, you’re probably going to keep some players and say, ‘I need to win some games’.
“He got rid of Clint Gutherson, RCG (Reagan Campbell-Gillard), got smashed by Melbourne in the first round, didn’t win a couple for a while, brought in some players of his choosing, started getting some consistency, Mitch Moses came back in the side.
“I feel like this is another call from Jason Ryles. He’s like, ‘Well Zac, if you want to leave, if you’re not buying into what we’re doing, see you later’.
“Jason Ryles has made some really strong decisions that you could argue have put Parramatta a couple of steps backwards but they’re definitely going in the right direction, particularly the way they played at the back-end of last season.
“He chose to set a culture with good characters, good leaders and I think this is a decision around Zac as well. He’s happy to let Zac move on and reshape their roster a little bit.”
Fox League’s Lara Pitt: “Zac was a Brad Arthur signing.
“From what we know of Zac Lomax, he beats to the sound of his own drum and he would probably back himself to play LIV Golf, just as he would back himself to play in R360.”
Roach said: “Part of the thing was the actual enjoyment of playing the game. All the money comes and that sort of stuff, that’s fine. I just wonder sometimes how much these guys actually love the game.
“Say Zac Lomax goes now, the competition (R360) doesn’t start until the end of next year, what does he do in the meantime? If you’re a footy player, you want to play.”
“That’s what I’m saying,” Pitt said.
“I think Zac Lomax will do whatever he chooses. He could start boxing, that’s the kind of guy he is.”
Cronk added: “And maybe that’s the type of guy Jason Ryles doesn’t want. Every team rocks up the first week of November preparing for next year. There is a trophy up for grabs and 17 teams want it.
“The difference between the Broncos and the team that finishes last is how much you want it, how much performance you can give and what the culture is. They’re the three key parts of a premiership winning team.”
Lomax’s departure has freed up some room in Parramatta’s salary cap and Roach believes the Eels should target Nelson Asofa-Solomona, although the Eels have said they have not been in communication with the Kiwi forward.
“I don’t think Parramatta will get another winger,” Roach said.
“I reckon it opens the door for big Asofa. The Melbourne Storm have let him go.
“He’s a player who can play 50 minutes for you every week, play the first 20, have a rest then come on and finish games. “He’s a presence. Sometimes he’s erratic.
“I don’t think Parramatta will try and replace Lomax with an outside back. I think they’ll go for someone like big Asofa.”
Parramatta finished 11th on the ladder with a 10-14 record and are expected to make a push for the top eight after signing Jonah Pezet from the Melbourne Storm on a one-year deal.
Cronk predicts the Eels to “sit around that 7th to 10th” range on the ladder, warning: “The biggest key for them is Mitch Moses’ health.”
The Eels have the longest premiership drought of any NRL team, with Parramatta’s last premiership coming back in 1986 during the Peter Sterling era.
