Howarth for exiled Lomax: Eels ears prick at mooted Storm player trade

Melbourne may have found a path to signing Zac Lomax, with early reports suggesting that Jack Howarth could be offered as a makeweight to Parramatta to get the Eels to release their in-exile New South Wales winger.

The NRL world has been discussing the swap since mid-week, when veteran journalist Buzz Rothfield first suggested the deal. “Jack Howarth for Zac Lomax,” Rothfield posted on Twitter on Thursday.

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Melbourne may be happy to let Howarth go considering he’s featured only 16 times over the last two seasons. While he’s highly regarded down south, they aren’t exactly lacking strike power in the roster — and Lomax would fill a similar gap. The other way, Parra would be very happy with Howarth on an edge.

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Howarth has also worked with Parramatta’s coach in the past; he and Jason Ryles worked closely together while Ryles was an assistant in Melbourne. That same link is how the Eels boss landed Jonah Pezet and Josh Addo-Carr.

It’s a waiting game to see if Buzz’s mail pans out. For the time being, no one else is reporting the trade deal formally.