Five years ago, when Russell Crowe was choosing St Helens over the Oscars, Jonny Lomax had more on his mind that just the World Club Challenge.
Lomax played full-back as Crowe’s South Sydney brushed Saints aside 39-0, in a game that sandwiched two horrendous knee injuries he has battled back from.
Now fully fit and firing to the extent that many see him as the most influential player in Super League, Lomax is relishing the chance to focus purely on his performance against Sydney Roosters tonight.
He explained: “Personally I’m a lot fitter – last time I was four games in from an ACL reconstruction, and the game after that it re-went. From my own point of view I’m in a totally different place physically and mentally.
(Image: Getty)
“That might be through age or experience, and being challenged through those tough times brings you out the other side stronger. That’s where I am now – a lot more level-headed and that’s benefited me in playing.
“When I played in 2015 I was probably in a mindset where I was questioning whether my knee and my body was right, and for a few years that definitely lingers in the back of your head.
“People say that while it takes six to nine months to get back onto the field after an ACL, it’s more like 24 months to really get over the injury. When you take that into account – and it’s probably something that is overlooked, the mental aspect of getting over injuries – I’m reaping the benefits of that now.
(Image: PA)
“I’m confident, and that confidence allows you to play more freely on the field and concentrate on the job in hand.”
Lomax and his St Helens team-mates will need to be at their best to avoid another Australian lesson, given that the Roosters are seen as the standard bearers for the sport under coach Trent Robinson. They have won three NRL Grand Finals in the seven seasons he’s been in charge and topped the table on four occasions, and are now bidding to be the first team to win back-to-back World Club Challenges.
Lomax added: “They’re always in and around that picture – we talk about benchmarks and they probably are the pinnacle in terms of what they’ve achieved in recent years.
“The brand of rugby that they play, the set-for-set mentality and keeping the ball in play in a battle of attritional style, is how I believe the game should be played at times. But that means there is less pressure on us, and it’s an opportunity and a challenge.”
