In terms of talent, Lomax is rated at least as highly as Eastmond by the coaching team. IMO he needs to establish (or be given) a position to make his own - the utility role is great for the club, but can restrict a player's development in a "jack of all trades" kind of way.

No disrespect meant to him, but he's hiding it well. He looks alright, he looks borderline talented at times, but he has no real speed and has never done anything remarkable so far. Eastmond has provided several 'wow' moments already.

And he's done it from different positions, like centre.
I like lomax. I think he'll go well for us, but he's perhaps come in at a time when the teams slightly more disjointed than when Eastmond appeared.

Ah, I see. I don't buy programmes (except for the last match at KR!) so I didn't see that.

I know from the experience with a relative who has recently had a hernia removed that if a hernia is not bothering a person then the medics leave it in place. People can carry on with their normal lives with hernias. However, if it starts to become a problem then they are removed. Maybe his will be dealt with during the off-season. It could be quite a few weeks recovery time where he won't be able to do anything, much less play rugby, depending on whether the hernia is embedded in the muscle.

He was in the final three for young player of the year this year, which I think speaks volumes given his intermittent time on the pitch and the many different positions he played.

I hope our new coach will give him a secure spot for next season so that we can all find out what he can do. He definitely looks promising.

If im not mistaken i believe he has signed for salford. Im sure i saw that somewhere

Just a rumour at the minute, although the rumours seem to be getting louder.

So far as Foster is concerned, I'd kind of like to see him have a go at fullback sometime. He has great positional sense already, is not afraid to clear up messes, he is nippy, he can get round players and he is good defensively. He can also boot a ball up the pitch so he would do great dropouts. Granted, he may be a little skinny at present but nontheless it would be interesting to see how he performs in the position.

I think, although primerily a centre, they moved him to full back for the U20s a few months before he started to get 1st team action. Also, I don't think he looks as skinny now as he did when he started and he's reasonably tall, so hopefully that shouldn't cause him too many problems as we go along.

A good call, but I still think I'd prefer Lomax there as he appears to be more of an elusive runner than Foster.

Just skimmed though this thread,

seems some people are doubting the talent of Lomax?
Clear as day to me this kid could be a huge star, up there with Easymond in my opinion.

Cloughy also has huge potential I think as a prop.

Do we have anyone who has played at fullback for the acadamy?

I believe we having a rising talent at fullback called Nathan Ashe. When i've seen him play he looks devestating. He's 18 i think so i'm not sure how far off he is in terms of playing first team. Anybody more in the know with the academy/ u18's shed any light?

It's hardly clear as day though is it. He's got no pace and hasn't yet done anything to suggest he's a world beater. His initial burst of first team action was a classic knockonathon and although he now seems steady and settled in the side there are still massive question marks over his defending and I just don't see him ever being given a position at Saints. Where is Johnny going to play for us long term?

Personally I'd play him on the wing, purely because of his name (Number 5).

Nathan Ashe is a class act. I think we may see him handed some first team action this season and could be a real star.

Happy to have foster, lomax and Wheeler to a degree. But 60K a year
is nonsense money given the level of experience (all 3) and how
injury prone (Wheller & Lomax) are.

All this trust in Mac stuff held good over Gleeson and Millward but
there have been several bum decisions made since.

The confidence in who we sign and how much they are paid is not there for me.
Things have not been right since Sully was left to limp in and out for big games
on a boatload of cash.

If Lomax, Foster and Wheeler are all making around 60k a year i dread to think how much we're paying Kyle to get injured. If he stays fit it is more than worth it though.

Agree 100% with Saddened and Gerry.

Ive been banging on about the lack of any genuine "exciting" signings since Lyon. With the current dire state of the british £, I seriously cant see any top line aussies coming over any time soon. The three Storm players signed for Wigan are here because of Maguire, not because of the lure of big $. I just hope Rolls Royce has the same pull.

Kyle will be on at least £100k, if I remember rightly, thats what Offiah was valuing him at during the time of his contract negotiations.

I suppose thats the price we have to pay to stop the lure of big money in the lesser code.

The lure of big money may come again......but sooner than we think!

It's good for your club's and GB's future that you're getting the youngsters signed up , the one you need to get on a new contract is Ashurst,....i'd welcome him at Wigan

Which of your numerous second rowers would you drop to accomodate him, you already have 6, would you place him above any of those?

Probably not but he would certainly add to the squad and increase competition, i just think that he is vastly undervalued at your club

How undervalued? He is one year in of a three year contract, he has played over 40 games due to injuries in the team. If he was at Wigan he would never have got those opportunities!

He's not undervalued within the club, but there are many supporters on this forum who do not see him as a first choice player , i just think if given the chance he will become one of your best