Lomax’s fight wish: Eels won’t block Dragons star stepping into ring

The Eels are short-priced favourites to sign wantaway Dragons star Zac Lomax. And those odds are about to tighten significantly for one reason, reveals DAVID RICCIO.

Zac Lomax wants to become the next NRL star to take up boxing with the freedom to step into the ring a feature of his next deal.

The major contract development has emerged in the wake of Lomax being granted a release from his tenure with St George-Illawarra from the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The 24-year-old is currently on the hunt for a new club with the Dragons preparing to use the money from his $800,000-season contract on the open market.

The Eels are short-priced favourites to sign Lomax after he and his agent Clinton Schifcofske met with head coach Brad Arthur on Thursday night.

And this masthead can reveal those odds are about to tighten significantly with Parramatta management having no objection towards Lomax making his boxing debut in the off-season.

Lomax wanted to commence his boxing foray at the end of last season.

Zac Lomax wants in on the NRL boxing scene. Picture: No Limit Boxing

He was due to appear on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams’ fight against Mark Hunt last November, yet he was ultimately denied by Dragons management due to insurance issues and also wanting their marquee player to focus on preparing for the 2024 season.

“I was a week-and-a-half out. I did a full boxing camp, I was going to fight and I just couldn’t get insurance,” Lomax told James Graham’s Bye Round podcast last year.

“With the Dragons I needed all the insurance to be paid for and it just didn’t work out.

“It was a little too expensive, which the Dragons couldn’t tick off on, which is fair enough and I agree with. But it fell over.

“I love boxing. It’s something that I’ve done.

“I’ve been able to train with a few people over the years and just watch and learn, it’s been good. I just love it.

“I love all the combat sports, always have.

“You’d love to have a fight here and there, footy is my profession and my love, but everyone who has been involved in it (boxing) just wants to have one.”

Zac Lomax in the corner for Tyler Sargent Wilson. Picture: Grant Trouville/No Limit

However, providing he is free from injury or off-season surgery - and that he eventually signs with them - the Eels wouldn’t stand in Lomax’s way.

The club has previously allowed marquee forwards Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard the chance to fight during the off-season, believing the preparation and training for their respective bouts is only beneficial for their physical upkeep.

A gifted athlete with a passion for the sweet science, Lomax has repeatedly reached out to other footballers who have entered the ring, including Paul Gallen, for advice on making the transition.

He was also in Wollongong fighter Tyler Sargent-Wilson’s corner during his bout against Steven Rados on the undercard of Gallen’s fight against former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne in 2021.

A possible bout with Manly winger and former Dragons teammate Jason Saab was raised last year by No Limit boxing CEO George Rose.

“I know Saab is very interested in fighting Zac Lomax,” Rose told Code Sports.

“I’d be happy to put on a fight like that.

‘’It’s just a case of whether Zac Lomax wants to step in with Jason, because Jason has made it very clear that he wants him.‘’

The Eels and Lomax’s management left the meeting with a plan to press pause on all discussions until after this weekend’s matches.

Parramatta are confident they have the salary cap space to sign Lomax on a four-year deal worth around $700,000 a season without having to lose a player from their roster.

Originally published as Lomax’s fight wish: Eels won’t block Dragons star stepping into ring