Huge risk in Eels’ game-changing signing calls with Lomax cash... and star they could get right now

Zac Lomax’s Eels departure puts Jason Ryles’ squad in an interesting position.

The gun winger was granted an immediate release by Parramatta, playing only 19 games in the blue and gold despite signing a four-year contract.

According to CODE Sports, he was earning around $650,000, which the Eels will now be able to use to make a splash in the free agency market.

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In the short term, Ryles will need to find a new man to fill Lomax’s position on the wing — and there’s three key contenders.

WHO COULD TAKE LOMAX’S WING SPOT?

Bailey Simonsson is the obvious man, having stayed at Parramatta despite an ugly contract stand-off after he slipped behind Dylan Brown in a reshuffled backline pecking order.

Simonsson is contracted until the end of 2027 and has proven to be a hardworking flyer, happy to take the tough carries from back-field.

Jordan Samrani is another option, having enjoyed a breakout season under Ryles in 2025, playing 13 games on the wing, at centre and off the bench as a roving middle forward.

The 23-year-old will only benefit from another pre-season and could be primed to make a starting spot his own next year, while the future of young gun Richard Penisini remains uncertain.

The 20-year-old, brother of star centre Will, was upgraded to the top 30 in March but is yet to finalise a new contract to remain at the club next season.

THE SALARY CAP

While Lomax’s departure frees up a significant amount of cap space, a host of other players are also off-contract.

Brown left for the Knights, while Brendan Hands, Joe Ofahengaue and Dean Hawkins have taken up opportunities in the Super League.

Haze Dunster, Joey Lussick, Dan Keir and Wiremu Greig were also released, while Shaun Lane and Bryce Cartwright both retired from NRL football.

Taking some of that cap space is new arrivals Jack de Belin and Jonah Pezet, while Parramatta also added Tallyn Da Silva and Dylan Walker to their ranks last year.

Looking ahead, Ryles also has calls to make on Charlie Guymer, Walker, Joash Papalii, Junior Paulo, Ronald Volkman, Toni Mataele and Will Penisini.

That group all are free to negotiate with rivals for the 2027 season as it stands, while Ryan Matterson is also on the outer after being given permission to go on loan last year.

Considering the mountain of moving parts, all roads point to the Eels making a big splash in the transfer market for the 2027 season — unless they sign one man right now.

WHO COULD THEY SIGN?

That one man is Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who the Eels have been linked to after he was granted an immediate release from his Storm contract, two years early.

The 29-year-old has a connection with Ryles from his time in Melbourne, but it remains to be seen if the Eels coach could get the best out of the hulking enforcer.

He would be available for next season but his biggest flaw has always been a lack of discipline, with his ugly high shots often earning him stints on the sidelines.

Should the Eels sign Asofa-Solomona, he would also take up all of Lomax’s freed-up cap space, and there’s an argument that super-sized middle forwards are becoming obsolete in the NRL.

Instead, mobile middles — like Walker who was one of Parramatta’s key players last season — have become the preferred mould as the game gets faster.

Should the Eels avoid signing Asofa-Solomona and more players depart after their 2026 campaign, Parramatta could make a serious splash for 2027.

Pezet leaves for Brisbane after next season, and it’s expected that one of Lorenzo Talataina or Lincoln Fletcher will take the No.6 the following year.

But should neither of those rising stars come on as expected, the Eels may have to go to market for a playmaker — with three potential options to partner Mitchell Moses.

Jake Averillo is the first name, although he has played his best football in the outside backs at the Dolphins and it’s unlikely they will let him walk.

Tyran Wishart is a hot free agent, having enjoyed a breakout season in 2024 and a solid campaign in 2025, proving he is more than capable of being a starting playmaker.

The 25-year-old is unlikely to stay waiting in the wings at Melbourne Storm, sitting behind Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes in a bench role, given his versatility.

Wishart is reportedly going to market to explore his options and the Eels could be one club interested, especially given his Storm links with Ryles.

Jaxon Purdue is another option, yet an outside contender given he has been heavily linked with either a move to the Storm or a fresh contract to remain at the Cowboys.

The 20-year-old is a genuine star of the future and has showcased his dangerous attacking abilities in the centres, with a long-term halves switch yet to bear fruit.

However, the young gun has a desire to play in the halves and his future, if he remains in Townsville, will almost certainly be next to Tom Dearden in the No.6 jersey.

But arguably the most important area the Eels need to strengthen in is the middle forwards.

Asofa-Solomona is one option, but there’s a host of other big-name stars who would potentially add more to the Eels’ pack.

Keaon Koloamatangi is the obvious choice, with his manager setting an asking price of $900,000 to sign the gun forward.

According to Code Sports, there are rumblings growing that Koloamatangi could make the move to Parramatta, with their pursuit ramping up after Lomax’s departure.

“I think the view was that if we have a player whose focus may be elsewhere and the opportunities came to exit that situation sooner rather than later, and it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your roster somewhere else, why not do that,” Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos said.

“It’s not something we have been planning for the long-term. But obviously we’ll look internally, we’ll look at who is available and we will look at the balance of the roster.”

As a front-rower, Koloamatangi could be worth a hefty pay packet and he also delivered a host of 80-minute performances under Wayne Bennett last season.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is another outside shout, having been linked with the Perth Bears, the Dragons and the Bulldogs.

To pry him away from the Gold Coast, the Eels would need to table a salary solidly north of $1 million, with the new franchise expected to make a bold play for his services.

A move for Fa’asuamaleaui, on the surface, doesn’t look to be a smart one for the Eels, given they could fill their opening with Koloamatangi.

Toby Rudolf and Lindsay Smith are two other options, with J’maine Hopgood having previously made the move from the Panthers to the Eels.

But while hitting the open market for 2027 looms as the obvious option, the Eels sit in a precarious spot given the current status of their most important player.

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HOW DOES THE EELS SPINE SIT?

Mitchell Moses is in the prime of his career.

The gun halfback is playing arguably his best football and, when on the field, has drastically improved the Eels, who ended their 2025 campaign on a high.

Parramatta are expected to be a much-improved team in 2026, but can they improve enough next year to have a genuine crack at a premiership in 2027?

Or, with Pezet alongside Moses, should Ryles make moves for 2026 and sign Asofa-Solomona in a bid to get the best out of his talented halfback while he can?

By the time the 2027 season rolls around, Moses will be 32.

When fit, Moses’ pace and playmaking abilities are at his absolute peak, but equally he has struggled with several injuries in recent years.

It remains to be seen if Moses will still be in his prime come 2027, which could be when the marquee recruits land.

However, the likes of Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt and Daly Cherry-Evans have all had success in their mid-30s. Moses could well follow suit.

But the Eels sit at a critical juncture, with a big decision set to be made regarding their ‘win now’ or ‘win in 2027’ prospects.

In the short-term, Pezet is clearly the best halves partner he’s going to get and it’s only for one season, exacerbating the conundrum of when to pull the trigger on signings.

Elsewhere, the hooker duo of Ryley Smith and Tallyn Da Silva will remain until at least the end of 2027, while Isaiah Iongi’s contract also runs out at the end of that year.

However, the rising fullback looks certain to be a long-term fixture in the blue and gold’s No.1 jersey.

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