Zac Lomax eyes French rugby after manager pulls out of R360 talks
Zac Lomax is in talks with a French agent to play in the Top 14 competition after his manager, Clinton Schifcofske, withdrew from negotiations with R360 over the threat of a 10-year ban from the NRL.
Schifcofske was a key figure in dealing with the rebel competition and had negotiated releases for Lomax and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Lomax and Papenhuyzen have been expected to join the new rugby competition since leaving their NRL deals, but they'll have to ply their trade elsewhere given R360 has flagged an October 2026 start. The rebel tournament has provided little detail about other aspects of the competition.
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That leaves both players in limbo with Lomax looking at the French Top 14 rugby competition.
The French rugby competition started in September and runs until June next year.
"I'm stepping away," Schifcofske said on Wednesday, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
"The rules have changed, so I have to play by the rules. I'm still doing all their NRL stuff if they choose to play in the NRL, and I will do all their rugby for every other sanctioned competition around the world.
"[For R360], they can get another agent or my advice was to get a lawyer."
While Lomax, Papenhuyzen and Warriors veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have all been linked to R360 for months, Broncos star Payne Haas is R360's biggest target.
Clinton Schifcofske. Getty
The NSW star has reportedly told a representative player close to him that he will remain at the Broncos.
His management originally postponed an early October meeting with rugby officials to ensure they weren't breaching NRL rules.
A week later, the NRL announced its 10-year ban.
While there are reports Haas would earn $3 million annually with R360, it's understood the premiership-winning forward has doubts over the financial viability of the competition and is yet to make a definitive call.
Zac Lomax scores a try for NSW. Getty
"I think people are starting to see that it's a massive risk," said ARLC Commission chairman Peter V'landys.
"If it does get off the ground, will you get paid? That's the big question.
"People are starting to look into it a bit more and the question is: why would you risk your whole career on some fly-by-night competition that might not survive?"
