Lomax is on too big a salary to be anything other than a starting player.

Ok give SMD a pay rise sorted

Lance Hohaia mrkII

I don't see the fascination wirh SMD. Don't get me wrong he's done ok since he came back. I like him and like his attitude but let's not forget that saints didn't deem him worthy of a deal for 2015.

Anyone who thinks he's better than a fully fit Lomax must have lost his/her mind. Lomax has more skill in his little toe than SMD does in his whole body.

The only area that SMD beats Lomax is the support play. SMD support play is second to none to any player in super league and that's how he scores so many tries.

I'm not bagging SMD before the usual on here wear saints tinted specs jump on me. I'm not pointing out he's not in the league as Lomax.

I agree that a fully fit Lomax is a top player, but he has been fully fit for only a fraction of his time at Saints, and I have doubts that he will ever regain the fitness to get him back to his best. That doesn't mean that he can't be a really good player again, maybe in a different position, but I would be surprised to see him playing 30 games a season for us as a full back. Given his fitness record, it is vital that we have a good back up, and SMD gives us that. Let's not forget that he isn't first choice in that position, and as a backup, he is far more than being just adequate.

He looks a different player from the short spell last season, maybe the longer contract has settled him and he has quickly become part of the squad.

He's been great since he's come back to us. If his form continues i can't see J-Lo just walking back into the side. I can see how McDonnell could also supply cover across the backs, he's a great support player.

SMD and Sav on the pitch at the same time could be a great pairing. Sav likes to get his hands free and SMD is always Johnny on the spot supporting

I like Shannon. He's won me over so far. To be fair to him he played well last season as well until he got injured. Lomax could end up at 6 or as 1,3,4,6,7,9 cover from the bench.

I don't think anyone will know where he will be playing until he has a few injury free months under his belt. But his lack of a kicking game will always be a problem for him in the halves, unless he is playing between players like Walsh and Wilkin. He could still turn into a Danny McGuire type of a 6 if he can regain his speed and zip

Speed and zip? Not words I'd associate with Lomax even after his previous returns.

We might as well put jonny down and have done with him the way some are talking on here. I know for a fact that Jonny will be fullback when he's back. KC likes him and will give him every opportunity to regain his form and fitness. Kc didn't really want mcdonnell for next year.

Like I said earlier in the thread thst SMD as done ok so far but he's your average run of the mill fullback with a excellent support play. His defence is pretty woeful to be honest.

Sky say he's been immense since he returned to St. Helens for his second spell, next thing, he picks up a ankle injury. Can it be any worse for you guys with potentially Wellens, Makinson, Swift, McDonnell, Lomax out of the back line.

No.

We could lose Dawson, Percival and Turner as well?

Depending on who KC chooses for fullback now, these may not have much impact. Turner and Jones centres, Percival and Dawson on the wings is fine. We might even see someone from the academy.

I'd put Turner at fullback. It's not quite happened to the same degree in Super League but in the NRL lots of teams have moved their most dangerous player to fullback. For example in the 2013 World Cup, of the Aussie backline, all 5 of them were fullbacks at NRL level. He's one of our most dangerous players, he's an athlete, and he can pass. He played halfback and loose last year so he's clearly able to adapt to different roles if necessary. He also has enough experience; fullback is a tough position to bring someone in from the academy just because it's such an isolated position. If you stick an academy centre in, you've got Wilkin and Walsh on either side of him talking to him constantly and a team around him to hide his errors where possible. If you stick a young fullback in, he's on his own with 30 metres of space and every error is noticed by the entire ground.

Assuming Swift will be OK for next week and to avoid too much dissruption we could put Jones at full back or perhaps try out fleming in that position. We still have options at the moment.

Kevin Locke for a month?

Or Bailey, who is is actually a fullback? Turner is playing brilliantly at centre, why do we have to start moving lads about, to weaken our back line even more?

How long is Shannon out for?

Josh Jones fullback ?

Definitely. Might need him to the end of the season looking at Shannon last night. Hopefully just a bad case of cramp or a twisted ankle but didn't look nice.

Please for heavens sake leave JT where he is, we signed him as a centre so give him a chance to be one!

Quite simply has to be Swift/Fleming for me if we don't do something with Locke.

Percival to FB is the only option for me. Think he will be a revelation there to be honest.

Dawson and Fleming on the wings if Swift isn't fit and you could make a case to try Wellington out on the wing to ease him in.

Percival catches all Dawsons high bombs, if you play Dawson you can't move Percival.

Turner is an interesting thought though

Trying to avoid a Jones/Dawson partnership we need to keep Percival and Turner in the centres.