NRL news: Parramatta Eels close in on Zac Lomax as $4.5m salary cap crunch looms

Parramatta have seemingly won the race for Dragons star Zac Lomax, but they face un uphill battle to convince some of their biggest stars to stay with the club over the next two seasons.

The Parramatta Eels are expected to land Zac Lomax on a four-year $2.7m deal in the coming days. Picture: NRL Images

Parramatta’s aggressive pursuit of St George Illawarra star Zac Lomax has borne fruit but they aren’t out of the woods yet as they stare down the barrel of a $4.5 million option extravaganza involving some of the biggest names in the club.

The Eels are expected to tie down Lomax to a four-year deal worth as much as $2.7 million in coming days, but they will have precious little time to rest on their laurels as they look to convince a handful of their superstars to stay at the club over the next two years.

The Parramatta Eels are expected to land Zac Lomax on a four-year $2.7m deal in the coming days. Picture: NRL Images

Their first priority is youngster Blaize Talagi, who has an option in his contract for next season and can begin speaking to rival clubs from next week. The Eels have tabled an extension to Talagi but he is expected to be inundated with interest once round six is over.

The following year the likes of Will Penisini, Dylan Brown, Maika Sivo and Shaun Lane all have either player or mutual options, which mean they may be able to begin exploring the market from November 1.

Rising youngster Blaize Talagi can begin speaking to rival clubs from next week, as he holds an option in his favour for 2025 at Parramatta. Picture: NRL Images

The year after that it is superstar Mitchell Moses. No club in the NRL has as many players with such flexibility in their deals as the Eels, who many believe are in a premiership window.

Lomax’s signing will help keep it open, although it may close quickly unless they can secure the future of some of their stars. Talagi aside, young halfback Ethan Sanders also has an extension on the table but has the ability to begin talking to rival clubs from next week.

Canberra are at the front of the queue and the belief that he is Raiders-bound prompted some to suggest the uncertainty over his future had cost him the chance to play first grade in the absence of Moses.

Star five-eighth Dylan Brown has options in his favour every season until the end of 2031. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Brad Arthur instead plumped for Talagi and then Daejarn Asi to play in the halves in Moses’ absence. He defended that decision on Friday, insisting that the snubbing of Sanders had nothing to do with his future.

“He is just a kid,” Arthur said.

“He has great potential, but where we are at the moment is we need experience. He is still learning his craft in (NSW) Cup about guiding the team around, that communication that I talked about, making sure he is confident enough to tell those (older) guys … what do so, to have the confidence in team meetings to own the team.

“That just takes a little bit of time. He will certainly play some first grade – we hope it is at our club. We want him to stay. I get it.

“But at the end of the day that is up to Ethan. The only way I am going to keep my job is to win. So I need to pick players [in] the team that I think can help us win each week.”

Winger Maika Sivo, who has been dropped this week, is among the players with options in their deal for the 2026 season. Asked how Sivo took the news, Arthur said: “Disappointed and I want him to be disappointed.

“He just needs to work on a few things and there was only one response I am looking for that is around his attitude and effort he puts into [NSW] Cup this week.”

Among the big names, Penisini and Brown are the more immediate concerns given they have player options for 2026. Both have the capacity to head to the open market on November 1, meaning the Eels have a matter of months to convince them that their future lies at Parramatta.

In Penisini’s case, rugby union could also come knocking given his pedigree in the sport. The Eels centre attended The King’s School where he was captain of the undefeated First XV side in 2020 and played alongside rugby-bound Joseph Suaalii.

Penisini has previously expressed his interest in rugby union, although for the time being he is committed to helping Parramatta win a title.