‘Invaluable addition’: Eels confirm Zac Lomax will be at the club in 2025 after Dragons star signs lucrative four-year deal

The Eels have confirmed one of rugby league’s worst-kept secrets, with the club announcing Dragons star Zac Lomax will join the blue and golds in 2025 on a four-year deal.

Parramatta has been desperately chasing an X-factor in the outside backs and they’ve finally landed their man, with Lomax already in the conversation for a State of Origin debut on the back of a stunning few weeks on the wing.

That positional switch is one of the reasons the 24-year-old has been agitating for an early release, with the Red V granting him one from the final years of his contract earlier this month.

It’s still unclear where Lomax will play for Parramatta next year given Will Penisini has done a fantastic job at right centre for the club, but what is apparent is that he will benefit them greatly out wide.

Lomax has developed into one of the game’s greatest weapons in the air, while his appetite for work has only grown as he prepares to bring up the 100-game milestone this week.

The Eels made the signing official on Tuesday morning, with the club to not make any further announcements “out of respect for Zac’s current club”.

“Zac is a great talent and we’re confident he will be an invaluable addition to our team,” Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos said, with a mid-season move looking unlikely at this stage.

“He complements our existing playing squad, and with almost 100 NRL games to his name since his debut in 2018, his experience will help the strong group of young players coming through our pathways system.

“We very much look forward to welcoming Zac and his family to our club in 2025, but right now, season 2024 is our focus.”

Eels coach Brad Arthur spoke about the possible signing on Monday night’s episode of NRL 360 after Lomax again starred with a try and an assist in the win over the Wests Tigers.

“Zac’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s a bit different to what we’ve got in the outside backs. He’s a kick target, he’s aggressive, he competes hard,” he said.

“What side of the field, we don’t know, we’ll worry about that next year.

“Playing in the centres, he can be nice and strong out of the backfield for us, but I think he’s got a good ability to set people up to the outside of him as well as score tries to himself.”