Papua New Guinea is looking to sign Zac Lomax for 2028, speaking to the exiled rugby league star in the same week he rejected a chance to move to the Storm next season.
The 26-year-old hit headlines again after it emerged Parramatta had finally given Melbourne the green light to sign Lomax, as long as they could pick up unwanted centre Jack Howarth as part of the bargain.
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The Storm had been happy enough to get a crack at Lomax, but the star back put paid to all the brewing Eels-Storm swap plans after he made it clear he didn’t want to walk out on his rugby team, the Perth-based Western Force, early. He’s currently signed there for 2026 and 2027.
It’s a funny ending to the whole saga that started because Lomax wasn’t too worried about honouring his Eels deal, which ran until 2028.
But, it now leaves both Parramatta and Melbourne in the lurch — and shapes as a huge victory for the Chiefs as they prepare for their inaugural campaign.
Lomax recently met with Chiefs officials and is reportedly “strongly considering” a move back to rugby league when his current deal expires. That would give him the time to try and break into the Wallabies squad for the 2027 World Cup, before then returning to the 13-player code.
Also helping things from the Chiefs side is that Lomax and Jarome Luai have a relationship from their time at NSW Blues camp together.
The 26-year-old would also surely be enticed by the fact that ex-journalist Michael Chammas is putting together a star-studded first roster in PNG that already includes Connor Watson, Alex Johnston and Matty Lees alongside Luai, which should push for finals immediately.
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PNG will next offer to have Lomax tour Port Moresby and the Chiefs resort-style compound where players (as well as their families) will live.
The club wants the star winger to sign a two year deal, if he’s interested.
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