They're also not great [ibecause[/i they are small.



That's garbage. No one's suggesting he should be Andy Platt in defence. Or Garry Jack leaping for a high ball. But if he's a [iliability[/i in both areas it won't matter if he can slice silk as a "leading edge". He won't get in and nor should he.

personally i think the modern day full back needs solid 1 on 1 tackling and good positioning, a bit of pace and being able to catch a high ball. Lomax seems to have at least three and can practice under the bomb. His goalkicking ability is an important addition that we badly need as well.

We're dealing with potential here, not the finished product (and indeed, is a professional ever actually 'the finished product' or are they always learning and adapting?). I think he was full of zest. But he was not irresponsible. He worked as part of the team. The team were more cautious in the first half, it was a difficult game in the circumstances, and more expansive in the second (in part because Wakey let them, not being on the ball themselves given the circumstances). He made some smart moves and while one spotted break turned into a knock-on, the fact that he spotted it and had the balls to run towards the ball in the hope of converting the break into a try shows, to me, that he has the potential to make a good RL player. Apparently he has only started playing fullback in the reserves this season, presumably because the staff knew about Paul Wellens and his knee problem, so this was not only his debut but probably about his fourth game ever in that position. I'd say he did extremely well, especially given the big boots he had to fill. I hope he can kick on from here and just grow, both defensively and in attack. Time will tell and I sincerely hope Saints fans give him and the other young players the time they need. I suspect they won't have much choice, given that our injury list is ever growing.

Yeah, his ability to boot the ball down the field stood out! He definitely can kick, that's for sure.

If he can kick a ball down field well he'll be on £500000 playing union in a matter of weeks!

Shhhhh! You might give the lad ideas!

I think that's really harsh. He did make one or two mistakes, but I htough he looked pretty good throughout. Seemed to have threat when returning kicks, ran good lines when we were in attack making a few half breaks and as for pace - he was tearing yards off brough (who's quick) following his interception.

You can coach a player how to catch bombs, and tackle, but you cant coach them to run 100 metres in under 11 seconds.
Considering he has only played a handfull of games at fullback he handled most kicks to him well. Certainly with more practise he should improve in that area.
He is also regarded as an enthusiastic tackler, and wasnt shown up on friday when making tackles.

And all the coaching in the world couldn't have turned Steve Prescott into Paul Wellens.

He just wasn't big enough.

Again this is the British mentality coming in. If playing in Australia, Prescott would have been lauded for his offensive skills.
In Britain we slag him off because he cant stop Neil Cowie from five yards out.
The aussies dont expect their fullbacks to do that. They expect the players in the main defensive line from preventing such a situation happening.

The British fullback mentality is one that comes from Soccer culture where the Goalkeeper is a key component in a sides success. The ability to stop shots and organise defence is at the core skill of a goalkeeprs job. Its no coincidence in soccer that the teams with the best keepers generally win trophys.
We therefore translate those requirements in RL so that we look at the fullback as the last line of defence who has to make the key tackles and organise the defensive line.
There is also the fact that English teams are often poorly coached so when breaks are made they are often unsupported by their colleagues.


In Australia without its soccer culture they have learned that the fullback is the primary strike weapon. They appreciate the requirement for a layered approach to defence, but know that due to the quality of sides, that its more important for the primary defensive line to be strong, than the fullback be able to make a last ditch tackle 100% of the time.
Its rare in Australia for unsupported breaks to be made. If a player breaks the defensive line its try time, as a player will know that he has players in support and merely has to draw the fullback and hand the ball off.
Even if the fullback manages to effect the tackle from a break, the offensive team will have broken the defensive structure to such an extent that its almost inevitable in the next play that a try will be scored.

Well, thank goodness we happen to be living in the UK then!

This is pure revisionism. If Neil Cowie five yards out on the hoof was the limit of Prescott's tackling abilities things wouldn't have been too bad.

The [itruth[/i was Prescott often struggled to stop players two thirds the mass at much greater distance.

Remember the hand-off Shaun Edwards floored him with on his way to the line at Knowsley Road?

View from a wakey supporter!

Granted he was playing behind a totally dominant pack (with KC running the show) and granted he made a howler.....but i thought he looked a really hot prospect and you guys have done well to produce another talent....full marks to the coaching set up at Saints

Some of the posts on here have knocked the lad, i'd have to say you must be getting a bit spoilt as i imagine playing your first SL game is pretty daunting and he did very well....

Most of the guys around me refused to believe he was having his first game and ended up convincing me that he was an aussie!

I can't believe some are knocking a kid who has just played his first Superleague game after having almost three years of Hell with injuries.

Yes he is only slightly built now, but give him two off seasons to work on his strength and conditioning. Look at Sam Tomkins, he's doing o.k.

He's still only 18 years of age.

Give the lad a break.

I know either he or Wheeler had had a lot of trouble with his back. Is that what you're referring to?

Wheeler has had trouble with his back. Lomax has just come back from a knee reconstruction.

The stats in League express for him are extremely impressive for a debut

Over 130 metres going forward.
6 tackles made ZERO misses (for Mugwump worried about his ability to tackle)

There's an article in the league express on Lomax's injury (page 3). He got a blood clot on the brain after a clash of heads in a school match. I think he's lucky to be alive never mind making his saints debut. It says in the article that he's got 3 plates in his head. Therefore, the need for the headgear.

I thought it was a very good debut by the lad. He didn't look at all out of place for his very first senior match.

I agree. Aside from the things you point out, bear in mind the emotions surrounding the game itself and the fact that he has only been playing in that position for a very short period. I thought he was outstanding.

Watched the bit of the Wakey game last night where Brough got the interception.
Hard to say who's got the most gas because of the chaser coming from the side, but Brough (who's quick) was never goign to get past Lomax and during the chase Lomax and Pryce were very even for pace.

as for people knocking the lads tackling skills, did they not see him dump the centre as wekefield scored, if gardner had stuck to his man and line the centre would have chosen not to offload and we'd have all been calling johnnys tackle a big shot

I don't think anyone (sane, at any rate) is knocking the kid. He did better than can be expected.

But we have to be realistic. The odds are heavily stacked against any kid becoming the "New Darren Lockyer". Indeed, the odds are against him even making it at Saints. For every junior that realises his potential there are ten more that don't (Joey Hayes, Danny Arnold etc. etc.)

Let's keep our feet on the ground. Certainly, the worth of stats achieved against a team decimated by injuries and grieving over the loss of a colleague are dubious to say the least.

That's true, although I will say that with the league going to 14 teams and quota rules tightening, the youngster we're seeing coming through our ranks - Lomax, Wheeler, Frodsam, Armstrong, Eastmond, Ashurst and Dixon all have a great chance of a SL career even if they don't make it at Saints.

I was astounded by this when I read it in the press. He's a very courageous guy.

I'm with Rogues in my disbelief of people knocking Lomax. He had a great debut and it was a damn shame he was stopped within inches of the line as it would have been a nice touch to get a try on his first game with the big boys!