Lomax bid to play for Storm cops another setback

The only thing certain about Zac Lomax’s future is that he will not be on the field for the Eels v Storm season opener, unless a peace deal can be struck.

Amid a court case with the Eels as a result of the fallout from him requesting a release and an attempted poach by the Storm, Lomax is in NRL purgatory as he awaits his fate.

He was originally scheduled to appear in court against his former club this week but the hearing has now been pushed back to March 2 with the NSW Supreme Court expecting a five-day hearing meaning he cannot be involved in the March 5 clash.

So far all offers from the Storm have been rejected by the Eels.

Initially Lomax had asked for a release in order to defect to the R360 rebel league but given the delay in it getting off the ground, other avenues have been explored.

The Eels agreed to the release on the condition their star did not negotiate with other NRL clubs – hence the legal proceedings.

Nonetheless, the Storm remain adamant they want his signature.

“The vast majority of people are disappointed with that we have to go to court, but we'd love Zach at our football club,” Storm CEO Frank Ponissi told SEN.

“We've got space in our cap, we've got a space on our list, so it would be a wonderful opportunity, but we've trained the whole pre-season without Zac Lomax.

“If the result comes Zach's way in a couple of weeks, he can play, it'll be a fantastic bonus for us, which they're excited about.

“If he can't, we've prepared without him, so, it would be disappointing, but you know, certainly there's not much we can do about it at this stage.”

Echoing Ponissi’s sentiments, Craig Bellamy is keen to see his squad bolstered.

“You’d probably have to ask guys higher up than me,” Bellamy said.

“I don’t know what’s happening there at the moment. It changes and then it doesn’t change, so I don’t know.

“I’m hopeful (that he’ll be in a Storm jersey) and we’d love to see him here, but I don’t know what’s going on there.”