Lomax named Saints captain

St Helens have confirmed that their club stalwart and England international Jonny Lomax will be Saints' new captain for 2024.

Lomax will lead the Saints side in 2024 as captain, succeeding former teammate and Saints veteran James Roby, who served the role with distinction from 2018 to his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.

A boyhood Saints fan.
Now Saints' captain. ?

Read more on just how much this means to Jonny Lomax ?@lomax_1990 | #COYS
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) January 26, 2024

Lomax is a one-club man and product of St Helens' youth system having joined at the age of eleven and working his way through Scholarship and Academy teams before making his senior debut in 2009.

The Saints' half-back has since played 326 times for the Red V, scoring 757 points and 133 tries, and has gone on to become an England and Great Britain international, as well as one of the best talents in the game.

And Lomax has an impressive list of achievements in his career to date. This includes being part of five Betfred Super League title-winning teams - playing in four successive Grand Final victories and memorably winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy in 2022, lifting four League Leaders' Shields, and bringing home a Challenge Cup from Wembley stadium. And most recently, a World Club Challenge trophy from Australia.

The 33-year-old playmaker will join a list of rugby league greats who have previously been St Helens captain, such as James Roby, Paul Wellens, Tom Foukes, Kel Coslett, Chris Joynt, and Keiron Cunningham - and that is naming just a few.

On becoming their new club captain, Lomax told saintsrlfc.com:

"This is a huge honour for me, upon being told the news when we were in camp it was pretty emotional as well. 

"I am a boyhood Saints fan and I stood on the terraces at Knowsley Road, so it's quite nice to take over that mantle, it's a huge honour, I?m proud of it. I hope to do everybody else proud as well with what we can do in the season ahead."

Given the respect and success that the last Saints captain earned, it would be fair to say being the next man to be the Club Captain will have a tough challenge, but Lomax is relishing that task as he looks ahead to a big 2024 campaign:

"Robes [James Roby] is a huge act to follow, but that's for everyone too, but at the same time it's quite exciting. Sometimes having a tough act to follow can get the most out of you. Like when people say that you can't do things on the field, you've got that bit of stubbornness, that bit of, 'Come on, we'll get after it,' and I think that's what's exciting about this year.

"We've not got the same pressure on us that we've had in previous years. It gives us a bit more freedom and something that we can sink our teeth into and get excited about the new season to come. At the end of the day, Pre-Season is the time when you can try and improve yourself, get better, but everyone wants to hit that field and play. That's what we love doing and we'll aim to bring back some silverware this year. 

"Following on from Robes, it's a huge ask, but he was a good person to learn from at the same time and he's taught me some good lessons along the way."

Head Coach Paul Wellens, who has also had the honour of being Saints' captain, spoke with pride about appointing Lomax as captain commenting: 

"It gives me great pleasure to announce Jonny as the new captain of St Helens, he has been an integral part of the Club's recent success and for many years now has held and driven the very highest standard.

"As a Head Coach I don't feel I'm giving Jonny an opportunity. I very much feel like this is an opportunity earned by himself and I know that he will be immensely proud to lead the team in 2024.

"I feel confident that Jonny, with the support of his teammates, can drive the team on to further success in the future."

Eamonn McManus, Chairman of St Helens, also shared his delight about the news and added:

"Jonny has been a leading player for St Helens throughout his fifteen years in the First Team. No one is more committed or more dedicated to the Club and to its continued success at the highest level.

"He is highly respected throughout the Club and the game; he has all the attributes to lead us to further success. It's also great to see that consecutive Club Captains have come through our Academy system who are lifelong Saints supporters."