A rough estimate of the 2014/15/16 seasons is that out of some 80+ games the club has played, Lomax has been on the field in 26. He was injured again today, this time in the warm-up.

Obviously it's a tragedy for the man, just as Gary Wheeler's constant injuries were a tragedy for him. But we held on to Wheeler for far too long after it became apparent that his body wasn't able to withstand the battering of top flight RL. It filled a space on our squad, and took up valuable room on our salary cap. Are we now doing the same with Lomax? He was one of the highest paid players at Saints after his last contract. And he's spent nearly 75% of the last three seasons sitting on the touchlines.

If he'd come back, slotted in, and put good run of matches together, I'd think he's just had some shocking luck, and hope he'd put it behind him, like Tommy Martyn did. But he hasn't.

In my view, it's increasingly hard to justify the expense. There's no room for that level of sentiment when the club is in such a terrible state.

Reckon he'll be captain nest year the way things are going

He's always going to pick up little niggles as he's been out for so long. I'm told he could have played last night but we didn't risk it which is right.

That's inevitable. When a player has been out for that long and that many times, it's always going to cause paranoia. Both he and the club would panic at each tightening of a muscle and each minor strain that players would normally run off or play through.

If I was Jonny and wouldn't risk anything and look to get thru this year without any injuries and good pre season and back to 100% next year.

With the seriousness of the injuries he has had and shortage of matches over the last 3 years we will not fully know now until a couple of months into next season if he will get back to his best consistently.
We do need cover for him, 1 that's more than a couple of games a year.

From what I have seen this term there should be no worries.

So, will he be playing this week?

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I'd pick SMD. He obviously feels he was unfairly dropped when lomax and had point to prove last Saturday and imo earned his spot this week.

Lomax might be needed at half back seeing as Fages and Walsh are out.

As for McDonnell, he made a few decent runs but the fact remains that he can't tackle and any broken line pretty much results in a try. His "attempt" for their 1st try was appalling.

Anything head on and it's a walk over him. I can't see KC risking him in the halves tbh.