If you actually bothered to read anything I post you'd know that I've consistently been one of Lomax's biggest supporters - from day one. But none of this alters the fact that the very nature of the repair, whilst making the joint stronger, significantly reduces its elasticity.

One only needed to witness the shadow of the player that was Lomax at the start of this season to draw some rather obvious conclusions about the impact of a second cruciate repair.

Tommy Martyn overcame double (triple?) cruciate surgery. Whilst his sidestep was effectively finished as an effective weapon he was fortunate to possess several other extremely valuable attributes and could therefore adjust his game.

Lomax doesn't have an equally wide skill-set. His game is primarily based on acceleration over the first fifteen meters and footwork. Both attributes will take a massive hit.

If you want to kid yourself about him returning next season as the player he was two seasons ago that's your business.

Personally I think his only option is the number nine position.



And I'd be crushed if Lomax made a miraculous recovery ... why?



Give me strength...

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.

Lomax isht exactly small. He's very muscular tbh.

I wonder if thats part of the problem. Gaining muscle is relatively easy, strengthening ligaments is not

I hope Lomax does return.
He's had tough luck with injuries and it would be good to see him over them and back on the field!

I honestly think the modern day players are so lean and muscular that it does play a part in ligament damage etc

Seems much more these days in the pro game than the was years ago

And once again we find ourselves knee deep in verbal excrement.

Why? I'm entitled to my opinion and personally I don't rate Lomax. I'm allowed to think that. He's not as good as Tomkins, Hardaker or Ratchford or Escare or Evalds.

Bit harsh, I'd have him (fully fit) over Evalds and Escare - and he was on a similar level as hardaker this time last year and has it in him to reach that level again.

Like the lad, and hope he makes it back to full fitness - but that could be by a year out of the firing line - wonder if Hayne would fancy a year in England if he doesn't make the 49ers run on squad

You'd be hard pushed to be a modern RL player and not be muscular. However, I've stood next to Lomax by a shop counter, and he was a good three or four inches shorter than me (I'm 6'0"), and while clearly a bit of a gym-bunny, he wasn't particularly massive. Amor, on the other hand (also in the shop), was a big lad.

I'm not kicking Lomax - he's been incredibly unlucky. But I have to agree with Muggers that if your whole game is based around agility and acceleration, then buggering your knees doesn't leave you with much else. I'm sorry for the guy, but perhaps our experience with Wheeler suggests that it might be better to plan a replacement now, rather than piddle away a couple more years.

I have to admit, i'm not overly sold on J-Lo. He's undoubtedly a talented rugby player, but his best position is very unclear.
His positional play isn't up to full back standards, and now with even further reduced agility i really fear for his future career. I think it would be prudent to start looking for a quality FB now as i dont think he is our long term future there. I hope he proves me wrong as he seems a real pro, but i just cant see it

Before his first knee injury, he had been one of our best players consistently over few seasons.

If you ask any supporters from other teams and pretty sure they dread Lomax getting the ball as he's a real threat.