Is R360 a genuine threat? Who knows if it’s real or if it’s a “cornflakes box” competition as ARL chairman Peter V’landys put it recently.
But the reality is that two of the game’s best players in Zac Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen have left the NRL with time remaining on their contracts.
Even if they aren’t R360 bound, has the prospect of that competition planted enough of a seed for some of the game’s best to start considering a move?
And that’s even before we get to the fact that Payne Haas is weighing up a payday which could see him pocket $3 million a season.
This move hasn’t come as a surprise to the Eels. Word of a post-game conversation between Lomax and fellow heavily-linked R360 prospect
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck quickly made its way back to the Eels after Parramatta took on the Warriors in their round 26 clash in Auckland.
Lomax apparently made a beeline for
Tuivasa-Sheck post-game where he wanted to pick the veteran back’s brain about a potential code switch despite the pair rarely crossing paths off the field.
Conversations also happened as far back as Origin camp.
In Lomax’s defence, he floated the prospect of joining R360 with the club months ago despite having three years left on his four-year contract worth about $700,000 a season.
Lomax had informally spoken about an immediate release with Eels officials in recent weeks.
That stepped up last week ahead of Lomax being required to return to pre-season training on Monday.
It turned into a formal release on Sunday night. While details surrounding the exit are yet to be fully revealed, the Eels won’t allow Lomax to play against them until his original four-year contract expires at the end of 2028 – although the NRL are threatening 10 year bans for R360 defectors. There has also been a suggestion of a release fee. Privately, Parramatta don’t know where Lomax will play. But the talk of R360 looms large.
Some at the Eels had been warned against signing Lomax given the way he exited the Dragons, but his form last year was so good they thought they had a match winner on a long-term deal.
He gave Parramatta good service but the reality is that it lasted just 19 games.
For the Eels, they have cleared significant money out of their cap. Lomax was signed as a centre under former coach Brad Arthur and new coach Jason Ryles was willing to give him a crack at his preferred spot.
But Ryles soon followed Shane Flanagan’s path from last season and realised Lomax was one of the game’s best wingers.
It is why Lomax made his Australian and NSW debut despite a reluctance to play on the flank at the Dragons. He didn’t play another game for Parramatta at centre after round five.
Parramatta’s interest in former Storm big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona is genuine and now they have some money to pursue the Kiwis prop.
They still have Ryan Matterson on their books with the one-time NSW forward due to return in a week for pre-season training.
As for the NRL? Well R360 apparently wants the players they have signed to start making formal announcements within weeks.
It could leave the NRL with the worst kind of Christmas present especially if Haas finds a big pay cheque under his tree.
