We presently have Austin and Hastings as leading contenders for the man of steel award and whilst they have added something extra to Super League I personally would have Lomax in my team ahead of either of those two.This lads skill and bravery has been demonstrated season after season.
There is speculation that Wayne Bennett will consider the likes of Austin,Hastings and Coote for our National team in my view this would have an adverse effect on the players presently in or pushing for places in the National squad.Are those three any better than the likes of Jonny Lomax or Indeed Stephan Ratchford and Jake Connor ???.

Lomax is the best 6 in SL by a long way. Austin goes missing far too many times against good opposition whilst Lomax always rises to the occasion

I really hope we don't go down the route of finding loopholes to get aussies into our team. They're denying someone who considers themselves British a spot in the team, and to me any win with Austin, Hastings and Coote in the team would feel hollow.

I don't want a team with aussies in it we have plenty of talent of our own

Yep! I'd understand if we were a country that doesn't even play at a decent amateur level, but we have the Super League and quite a few players in the NRL so there's no excuse. Who would people pick based on right now? I'm thinking

1. Ratchford
2. Makinson
3. Percival
4. Connor
5. McGillvary
6. Lomax
7. S.Tomkins (struggling really, don't think Connor or Williams would be a good partner)
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. Bateman
12. Whitehead
13. S.Burgess

14. G.Burgess
15. T.Burgess
16. Hodgson
17. Thompson

Reserves - Hardaker, Gildart, Williams, Sutton, Taylor, Clark, Currie

Not sure he did that in the two semi finals last year. But a good player regardless.

Austin is better. No debate to be had.

On present form I wouldnt have G Burgess or McGillvary, but other than that I'd pretty much agree across the board.

Lomax is massively overrated, I’m not sure what his position is. He was an average fullback and now he’s an average half, albeit making a few good break this year but one swallow doesn’t make a summer.

Correct.

Lomax is a good player, but he isn't international class.

He’s loving life hanging on the coattails of that Saints front row, much like some of his teammates.

He’s a good player no doubt but he’s certainly not a great one and he’s way behind the likes of Austin. I wouldn’t pick any heritage players for GB mind.

Every sport has its rules on international eligibility and we’re no different. We’re in a time when Superleague is falling miles behind the NRL and we need to attract a new NRL deal. For that reason I’d say it’s reasonable to play any player who is eligible. We need the best players playing the game on TV to attract new sponsors. If they’re eligible then they’re eligible and we should look to pick the strongest side from the players who are eligible for selection, even if it does stick in the throat!!

I can see both sides of the argument really but I think it's true that, as a sport, we need to do whatever we can to make the international game as competitive and interesting to the TV audience as possible. If that means adding qualifying players born elsewhere then I think we should do. After all, the Aussies have never shied away from it and they have a much bigger pool of quality players than we do. Ultimately it's all a matter of balance.

Lomax is the current English number 1 half back and as such gets a wage from the rfl.

Austin has never got close to an international shirt

Unlucky

As have any number of very talented NRL players we could all quote. Which says nothing about the comparison between Lomax and Austin.

He has played for Portugal a few times despite having no Portugese ancestry.

Lomax is a quality player, he unfortunately lacks either genuine pace or size which imo will always hold him back particularly at international level

He is playing behind a very dominant pack against poor SL defence. Most half decent backs can look great doing that but he wont have that same space and time to do what he is doing in SL when it comes to England and he will look slow and ineffective. International teams need half backs that can create a moment of magic and come up with a game changing play from nothing when the games is at a stalemate for long periods, Lomax cant do that. Hes not fast enough or skillful enough.

Haha no he’s not. Lomax is England’s backup fullback when Widdop is injured. That’s about it.

Exactly. You can only imagine what better players like Austin, Williams or Hastings would’ve done playing behind Walmsley, Roby and Thompson and under Justin Holbrook.

Lomax is a good superleague player but it ends there.

he is a good player, but not an outstanding one. Do halves really need pace and/or size? James Maloney has not got a lot of either, and neither did JT.

He's a very very good Superleague player, albeit in a team which is a halfback's dream at present.

Only 80% of a test quality half though for me.

Well whilst respecting the various opinions I stand by my original post especially having watched him run us ragged tonight .He is a terrific player.

He had a great game, thought that challenge at the end on Hankinson looked a bit naughty though, but it was only the one look so who knows.

Don't you think its silly to put little guy in for GB, that's currently playing half behind the leagues strongest pack, up against them big Aussies halfs?

I'm guessing you haven't even thought it through.