Zac Lomax has been criticised for taking a cheap shot at rugby league after signing a two-year deal with the Western Force and Rugby Australia.
Lomax reached a settlement with the Parramatta Eels in court that would not allow him to return to the NRL until 2028, unless the Eels got a suitable player swap in return.
That decision prompted Lomax to give up his hopes of playing for the Melbourne Storm this season and he has since signed a two-year contract worth $400,000 a year to switch codes ahead of the Rugby World Cup on Australian soil in 2027.
Lomax issued a statement on Monday confirming the move.
“The dream of one day representing the Wallabies on a truly international stage and potentially competing at a Rugby World Cup is a powerful motivation,” Lomax said.
The wording of that statement sparked fierce criticism from the panel on NRL 360.
“I think that’s tripe,” The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said.
“This disappoints me because I have backed Zac to an extent through this whole process, but that’s just a shot at Rugby League.
“To say a truly international stage, give me a break. You’re leaving the game, go.
“No one backed Zac Lomax more than Peter V’landys in the past three months. No one cares more about international rugby league than Peter V’landys. If I’m Peter V’landys and I see that quote, I’m saying, go. It’s pathetic.”
Rugby league reporter Dean Ritchie agreed.
“That’s a middle finger to rugby league and that’s a shame on the way out because Zac Lomax had a very, very successful rugby league career,” he said.
Ritchie then took a swipe at Rugby Australia and the Western Force before declaring Lomax would not see out the two-year deal.
“I think (Western Force) are rubbish, to be honest,” Ritchie said.
“They were kicked out a while back. Then Twiggy Forrest threw some money at them to get them to come back in.
“I think their average crowd’s about 5,000, so that’ll be fun. They’re a bit of a rabble. No one seems to know anything about them on the East Coast.
“There’s no way that he will survive two years over there. Zac will be back in Rugby League inside the two years.”
Read, meanwhile, said Lomax joining a rival code is a loss for rugby league and hurts the game.
“I was very open about saying I think he should be back in Rugby League,” Read said.
“I thought Parramatta should have taken the offer. Pettiness, it’s your word. I’m not using that word, pettiness.
“I’m sure people in Melbourne think that way. I think he should be playing Rugby League. I’m disappointed he’s not playing Rugby League.
“We can argue about whether it affects our game or not to lose him. I think every time you lose a star, it takes a little bit of the spotlight off our game to an extent.”
However, Braith Anasta believes rugby union is the game that has been hurt more by the Lomax situation, given he only joined the rival code when he was out of other options after his R360 deal fell over and then his rugby league career was put on hold.
“I actually think it’s more a blight on rugby union,” Anasta said.
“When you look at it you have got Joseph Suaalii, Angus Crichton, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Zac Lomax, they’re going to walk into the Australian World Cup team.
“You’ve got four guys that have left rugby league and if you put the shoe on the other foot, there’s no rugby union players that could leave rugby union and make the Australian rugby league team. It’s not going to happen.
“It says a lot about where rugby union’s at and where rugby league’s at. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all.”
RUGBY LEAGUE HEAVYWEIGHTS UNLOAD ON LOMAX
The reaction was just as searing from further afield — including from rugby league Immortal and former Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, now in charge of Perth Bears.
“It’s disappointing to hear a comment like that,” Meninga said.
“Rugby league has given Zac every opportunity in life. He’ll probably regret saying that down the track.”
International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant delivered a sarcastic whack.
“It’s nice to hear about Zac’s dream of representing the Wallabies, which comes less than two weeks after losing his court case to play with Melbourne,” Grant said.
“His departure from international rugby league is of no consequence – and he will have no impact on rugby union. All I can say, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out’.”
Former Test hardman Mark Geyer, meanwhile, accused Lomax of flagrantly disrespecting the game and said he would not welcome back the departed star.
“It’s disappointing to hear that when you think St George Illawarra were great to him, Parramatta were great to him, and Melbourne wanted to be great to him,” Geyer said. “He’s basically given the code both fingers.
“I hope it’s the last we see of him. That comment was as subtle as a sledgehammer. It’s not what you say but how you say it. If that wasn’t a two-fingered salute to rugby league, I don’t know what it is. Let him go and try and play in his World Cup.”
Lomax’s NSW Origin teammate Nathan Cleary lamented the messy nature of Lomax’s exit and suggested that he could succeed in the 15-man code.
“At the end of the day Zac probably jumped the gun a bit early leaving Parra but we’re also losing such a great player from our game,” Cleary said on 100% Footy.
“I’m sure its torn on both sides, I know what Parra fans are probably thinking but at the end of the day we want our best talents staying in the NRL so all the best to him.
“Obviously he’s got that opportunity with the World Cup next year in rugby unionand to take that on.
“I think he’s such a threat in the air so I’d love to be able to see that and (for him) to take that over to union. You’ve also got Joseph Suaalii over there so hopefully they all end up back in league, that would be nice.”
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