Not a chance. There is Hardaker at Leeds or even Ratchford. Lomax won't be able to do his silly lift the leg and run dance at full back. I would even go as far as saying Jamie Foster has a better chance than Lomax of playing Full Back for England

True, but he is the best of the 3 who are struggling at the moment, if he is going to be our future full back he needs to improve his defence, quite often he gets stepped inside, noticed it quite a few seasons now.

Although at Fullback he's not going to be defending as part of a group and so can just commit to the player who has broken through.

Not quite correct in that when our line is being threatened he will need to be in the right place at the right time, defending as part of a group. The breakaways often leave the fullback isolated, choosing between two players and invariably a try is scored on those occasions.

Lomax doesn't have lightening pace; he doesn't appear to have great game awareness (Jamie Foster was far more game aware IMO), his defence is inconsistent and he doesn't have a great sidestep or anything (just that skip thing he does). I am really struggling to see why he would be chosen as fullback over Makinson. Unless Rush has made the decision rather than Brown.

Why would Rush make that decision? He didn't make it last year when he was coach.

Now you can see why he was chosen.

That skippy thing as you call it, does nowt in the middle of the park as the forwards just close in and batter him.

Out wide the defenders have less room for error and tend to stand off players like that. A good run at FB, solid under the high ball. Defensively not tested a great deal.

I'm sorry but you're completely wrong there. He has a great step, in fact one of the best I have seen. He also has a magnificent rugby brain, although it hasn't shown when he's been swamped at 7 it's there, he also reads the game very very well.

This is judged off years of seeing him play, playing against him and playing with him.

I haven't seen him play there since God knows when so I can't say that I do. If he plays there against Leeds I will be able to say that I can see why he was chosen.


So are you saying he is one dimensional? He can't adapt his game?


And not as quick as Makinson (of that I AM sure!).

I would be interested to see him at fullback against Leeds but especially against Warrington, Wigan and Huddersfield. That would test him.

As I am sure you have said, and others certainly have said, just because he was good at something as a youngster doesn't mean that develops into the adult game.

I think I saw him play at fullback once at Wakefield I think it was donkey's years ago it seems like now. Or maybe I've gotten even that mixed up. But what I do know is that I have seen him play in the halves and on the wing and so obviously that is where I have formed my impressions of him as a player.

And he doesn't have lightning pace.

It's not that long ago.

A rugby brain and a step are natural abilities, you don't lose them no matter what level you're at. The step may be shut down a lot more often and the brain under more pressure but it doesn't mean they're not there

You're right, he doesn't have lightning pace. However, pace is useless if you can't beat a man, something which Jonny has proved he can do. Also, whilst his top speed isn't as fast as some, he has very good acceleration which allows him to burst away from the defensive line.

He scored 3 tries today, took some huge kicks and didn't do anything wrong defensively. Granted defensively he wasn't tested, but you can only do what is thrown at you.

That's all great but before I think 'wow' about a player I can't remember in that position, I want to see him in action myself and also I want to see him tested. He looked great at 7 with Gaskell at 6 in 2011, got young player of the year there too. But he's looked dodgy at 7 ever since.

That's all very true, I think by the time Wellens is fit again we should have a good idea of whether Lomax is a better option at #1. Personally, knowing his skill sets I would say that he is but we'll just have to see.

I'm looking forward to seeing Lomax at full back on friday against Leeds. Seems like Brown was happy with Wheeler and Wilkin in the halves too. The changes have worked out today, but Leeds'll be a much tougher test.

Not if recent seasons are anything to go by. Quite the opposite in fact. I'd say that over the last two or three seasons the only time Leeds have been a much tougher test than Bradford were was during knock out rugby, particularly in Grand Finals. We seem to beat them with relative ease during the regular season.

True, but you'd think it'll be a tighter game, unless they rock up with pink hair again!

That would have been his first team debut away at Wakefield. Played ok that day too IIRC.

Lol

There is a fair point in that Bradford where totally dominated that first half. However, the tries Lomax scored where not on a plate. He still had to work the line.

My point about his skip step is that when you do it in the middle of the park the middle defenders are more likely to commit to the tackle as there is less chance of them getting caught out. As you go wider, defenders have to worry more about leaving their flank exposed. Does the centre come in and make the tackle, leaving his winger exposed 2 on 1, or does he hold the line and maybe see the FB fly past him.

The difficulty with Lomax, which he showed yesterday is that what ever the decision from the defender, he has the speed of thought and foot to do the opposite. When this becomes a trait, then you get people like Tomkins, who people will stand off all day long, rather than commit to anything.

Like you say one match does not change everything, but when Wellens came in for patch, it was a pretty similar revelation, a FB who committed to high balls and did not flounder when a decison was to be made. I think Patch came back for a few games too, but we had all seen the light after Wellens had played a few matches at FB.

Lets hope the same is true here. I still think there are other roles that Wellens can play. But competition for places is good for the club.

Its a strange one for me with jonny. He's a good player but he's a player that doesn't seem to have a postion. He defo isn't a halfback, I'm pretty sure of that. I'm not sure he's a centre either but fills the role well. I always thiught he's a better fullback but has he put to much beef on for a fullback? Is he a hooker?

Some good points there, it turned out a pretty good situation for Lomax to come in at No 1 with Bradfords poor performance in the first half. However he still needs to be tested which he will probably get in the next 2 games.
If Lomax turns out out the better option for the team, i don,t think Wellens will automatically get his shirt back as some people suggest on here.
Quite a few of our matured full backs in the past have made the transition into the pack, maybe he will get the opportunity at loose forward if Brown persists with Wikin at half back. For the future maybe Gaskell will be more suited to loose forward a position we still haven,t filled since Sculthorpe retired.

Brown has already said " wello will play when he's back from injury. Read that as you like"

Or something along them lines.

I read it as, if the team continues to play well, Wellens will be back, but not at FB. Bench spot to start with surely?

I wonder in what capacity, if the Lomax and Wilkin adjustment becomes one that provides more balance and success it might prove difficult to change it.
Think once we get past Leeds and Warrington, Brown might have a different thought process be it short or long term.