Eels eye Titans star following Lomax departur.
The Parramatta Eels have moved swiftly into the player market following the confirmed departure of Zac Lomax, identifying Gold Coast Titans outside back (Brian Kelly Placeholder] as a prime recruitment target for 2026. Lomax, whose move to the Wests Tigers was finalised earlier this month, leaves a sizeable gap in Parramatta’s backline plans—one the club is now determined to fill with a strike weapon capable of reshaping its attacking identity.
While Parramatta had long prepared for the possibility of losing Lomax after only a single season at the club, officials are understood to be prioritising an early replacement to stabilise their roster and avoid a prolonged recruitment scramble. That focus has landed squarely on the Titans star, who has surged into career-best form across the past two seasons and is now viewed as one of the NRL’s most valuable edge players.
The Titans had previously expressed confidence in retaining the 24-year-old, who remains contracted through 2025, but rising interest across the league—now fuelled by Parramatta’s urgency—has complicated extension discussions. According to those close to the negotiations, the Titans are preparing a significant upgrade offer, aware that the Eels’ approach may trigger a bidding contest they would prefer to avoid.
Parramatta’s pursuit is motivated not only by the need to replace Lomax’s aerial presence and goalkicking but also by a broader desire to re-energise their backline. The club’s recruitment team has spent months identifying athletes capable of adding both speed and versatility, attributes heavily emphasised by head coach Brad Arthur and his staff. The Titans star fits that profile cleanly, offering a blend of strength, agility, and defensive reliability that Parramatta believes can help rebuild its attacking shape on both edges.
Eels officials have remained tight-lipped publicly, but club sources say the team has already begun shaping a long-term pitch centred on the role the young outside back could play in a refreshed Parramatta system. With the Eels entering a crucial transition phase following a disappointing campaign, the club is eager to attract talent capable of delivering both immediate impact and sustained development across the coming seasons.
For the Titans, the timing is far from ideal. After significant upheaval in recent seasons, the club has finally stabilised its roster under coach Des Hasler, and retaining young marquee talent is central to that plan. The potential loss of one of their rising stars—particularly to a fellow club seeking to rebuild—would be a severe setback. Yet the Titans also recognise that maintaining roster harmony requires avoiding salary-cap overreach, a challenge complicated by the player’s rapidly increasing market value.
Rival clubs are monitoring the situation with interest, although Parramatta is presently viewed as the most likely suitor if the Titans cannot finalise an extension. The Eels’ recruitment strategy over the past two seasons has shifted toward securing high-impact outside backs to complement their established forward pack, and landing a young, dynamic athlete aligns neatly with that long-term blueprint.
Still, negotiations are expected to play out over several months, with both clubs cautious about rushing into decisions that could reverberate across their future roster planning. The Titans will continue making their case, emphasising stability, development opportunities, and their vision for the player as a central figure in their attacking structures. Parramatta, meanwhile, is likely to highlight the potential of a starring role in a reshaped Eels backline and the opportunity to anchor the club’s next premiership push.
For now, the situation remains fluid. Lomax’s departure has undeniably accelerated Parramatta’s search, but the Titans are determined not to lose another young talent without an exhaustive effort to retain him. As negotiations unfold, both clubs must balance ambition with realism—and whichever way the decision falls, it will shape the competitive landscape well beyond the 2026 season.
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