AFTER KISSING THE EELS AND NRL GOODBYE, ZAC LOMAX’S EXPECTED NEW SALARY AT R360 REVEALED
In one of the most dramatic and unexpected contract exits of recent years, Parramatta Eels star Zac Lomax has officially farewelled both the club and the NRL, clearing the runway for what is shaping up to be one of the most lucrative and controversial switches in modern rugby history. Lomax’s anticipated deal with high-spending Saudi-backed rugby franchise R360 has now had its expected salary figure leaked—sending shockwaves through league circles and raising serious questions about the future of player retention in Australia.
Lomax, who only arrived at Parramatta ahead of the 2025 season and was widely expected to become a central figure of the club’s backline rebuild, abruptly terminated his deal this week. According to club insiders, the 25-year-old informed management that the financial package on offer overseas was simply too extraordinary to ignore, particularly given its long-term security and opportunity for global exposure.
While initial whispers described the offer as “life-changing,” new reports have provided clarity: Lomax is set to earn an estimated $2.4 million per season at R360, a figure more than triple his $750,000-per-year deal at the Eels. Over the projected three-year contract, the total package is expected to soar beyond $7.2 million, not including bonuses tied to appearances, performance incentives, and commercial partnerships that the club is known for aggressively promoting.
For context, the NRL’s highest-paid players—Nathan Cleary, Daly Cherry-Evans, and Kalyn Ponga—earn between $1.2 million and $1.4 million annually. Lomax’s projected R360 salary dwarfs those numbers and places him within the earning bracket of elite rugby union stars who have been lured to Japan and Europe in recent years.
The move is the latest example of Saudi investment reshaping global sport. Following their high-profile acquisitions in football, combat sports, and motorsport, Saudi entities have increasingly turned towards rugby, aiming to develop premium global competitions that challenge traditional powerhouses. R360, in particular, has aggressively pursued Australian and New Zealand talent, presenting contract offers that NRL clubs simply cannot match under the league’s tight salary cap.
For Parramatta, Lomax’s departure leaves both relief and regret. While his early exit frees up valuable cap space, it also disrupts coach Brad Arthur’s projected backline plans. Lomax was recruited as a marquee strike weapon—a player capable of breaking games open with aerial dominance, athleticism, and sharp defensive reads. His combination with Dylan Brown and Clint Gutherson was expected to headline Parramatta’s attacking identity for the next several years.
Eels fans were left stunned by the speed of the development. Lomax’s decision reportedly became clearer in recent weeks as negotiations with R360 intensified, with sources claiming the Saudi club was willing to finalize the deal “within hours” once Lomax signaled genuine interest. His abrupt contract release effectively confirmed the seriousness of the offer.
The NRL community has reacted with a mixture of disbelief, frustration, and begrudging admiration. Former players have openly acknowledged that such figures are impossible to compete with, urging fans to understand the financial realities. “If someone offers you triple your salary to play footy for the same number of years, you’d be mad to say no,” one ex-NRL star commented.
But others warn of what this trend could represent. If wealthy offshore clubs continue to target high-profile NRL talent, young Australian stars may increasingly view international rugby—including emerging markets— as a pathway to unmatched financial prosperity. For a salary-cap-bound league already struggling to retain its biggest names, the implications are significant.
Meanwhile, R360 has remained quiet, offering no official statement on the signing. Still, their player-recruitment strategy has been unmistakable: secure exciting, marketable, peak-age athletes who can lift the club’s global profile. In that sense, Lomax fits perfectly. A highlight-reel player with charisma, flair, and a well-known competitive streak, he brings both athletic value and marketing appeal.
As for Lomax, he is set to embark on an entirely new chapter—one defined by financial comfort and international exposure, but also by the challenge of adapting to a new code, culture, and environment. His departure marks the end of what many believed would be a transformative period at Parramatta, but it may also mark the beginning of a new era in global rugby economics.
One thing is clear: the lure of unprecedented wealth has arrived on rugby’s doorstep, and Zac Lomax is the latest—and most dramatic—example of a player answering its call.
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After Zac Lomax kissed the Eels and the NRL goodbye for an expected bombshell switch to R360, his expected new salary has been revealed.
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