Super League Grand Final: St Helens' Johnny Lomax returns from the brink to make history | Rugby League News

Johnny Lomax was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy as Player of the Match as St Helens won the 24-12 victory over Leeds Rhinos for a historic fourth consecutive victory in the Betfred Super League Grand Final.Halfback previously considered calling time on play due to injury

Johnny Lomax was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy for his contribution to St Helens’ fourth straight Grand Final victory.

Seven years ago, Jonny Lomax pondered whether to play rugby league again. Currently, St. Helens’ halfback name has gone down in history by playing a key role in his unprecedented four-game win streak in his Betfred Super League Grand final victory. Engraving.

A knee injury and surgery limited him to 15 games in 2014, and after just five games at the start of the 2015 campaign, Lomax wore down Lomax, telling his father that he was unable to watch his playing career. He himself is again undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation process to the extent that he has said he intends to spend time on

But the support of his family and Saints teammates helped him get through those tough times, and the 32-year-old won for his starring role in Saturday’s 24-12 victory. , is a four-time Grand Final winner and winner of the Harry Sunderland Trophy.Over the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.

“If I had gone back to 2014 and 2015, when I had my third ACL surgery and the rest of my surgeries, I probably would have thought my career was over and I didn’t want to start over again. In the wake of this, we look back on his personal journey.

“Thankfully, I have wonderful people around me at home, immediate family, and the boys here.

“I was emotional at the time, so maybe it was a purely emotional decision in my head.

“There were a few things I was talking to my family that probably made things better.”

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Highlights from the Super League Grand Final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos.

Along with the members of the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association who voted Lomax for the Most Valuable Player award, another man to admire the England international was outgoing St Helens head coach Christian. It was woof.

The Australian, who is preparing to lead Tonga in the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, credited Lomax’s contribution to the team’s success during his three seasons before returning home for a new role at NRL expansion club Dolphins. , the club’s inspirational captain, James Robbie.

“We talk about hard work, selfless action and what we are ready to do for our teammates, but it’s not just about making it to the Grand Finals and doing it,” Wolff said.

“The Grand Final is a reflection of what you’ve always done, with Loebs leading the way up front and this team is about who he is as a person, his work ethic and who he is as a player. It reflects him in points.

Awards are great, but the trophies we lifted as a team are everything to me. I personally sacrifice something to be part of this team and get silverware for the principles we strive for.

Grand final player of the match Johnny Lomax

“But I put Johnny in the same boat and you talk about two bastards who steer the group in the right direction.

“There are no two people harder, better or more honest. They are the reason why this team has so much success.”

Meanwhile, Lomax, already grand final winners under predecessor Justin Holbrook, have established a level of dominance in the Super League that has never been seen since rugby league switched to a summer sport in 1996. He quickly highlighted Wolfe’s contribution to the team, which continues to do so.

A large part of that, he believes, rests on the 47-year-old’s convictions, which align with those of the players and St. Helens itself. industry.

“The principles of Christianity as people are very much tied to us,” Lomax said. “It’s about hard work, honesty, and trying to show up for your fellow man and that oneness.

“Christian instilled that in us. He definitely made us tough as a team to beat us. It is to compete with each other and keep appearing with each other.

“St. Helens is a working-class town, and that’s probably what we’re getting into because that’s the underlying principle, and we want to bring that into the field.” I strongly believe in that.”

The dream-fulfilling attitude of teamwork will undoubtedly continue whoever succeeds Wolff as head coach in 2023 as the Saints pursue an unimaginable five-game winning streak.

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Johnny Lomax was proud of his St Helens team after winning four straight Grand Finals after beating Leeds Rhinos.

Lomax was proud to be awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy, becoming the 11th St Helens player since it was first announced in 1965, but he was happy to keep it in another Grand Final. exchanged for a ring.

“The awards are great, but the trophies we lifted as a team are everything to me,” said Lomax.

“I will personally sacrifice something to be part of this team and get silverware for our principles.

“For me, I’m more proud to be part of this group and that’s the biggest thing I bring back.”