Quote: Roy Haggerty "The problem with the number 9 option is that, while its possible to make it as a 9 if you're as small as Lomax (Higham, Aiton, Monaghan), your defence needs to be the best in the side, at or near the top of the tackle count every week.
But not only does Lomax seem a little fragile, but defence has not yet shown itself as one of his strong points.'"
I think we have to differentiate the Lomax who played in the halves (still very much a rookie) and the Lomax who seemed to have matured during his early successes at full back. I do agree that he was vulnerable early in his career - particularly to players who managed to get on his outside. I'm less certain that he was ever weak as a frontal defender (which is where he's likely be tested at nine).
The one thing he has in his favour is boundless enthusiasm (and, if fit, energy) - which is precisely the kind of attribute all good hookers need from the beginning. Whether his body is up to the job - I guess we'll just have to wait and see the size of the bite those two operations have taken out of his abilities.
Tragic really because he's a nice kid. Weird how these kinds of plagues rarely appear to afflict Rugby League's villains.