Balance of power

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BODY KEY TO SUCCESS SAYS JON

JONNY LOMAX has decided to stop battling his inner demons and injury woes and learn to understand them better.

The St Helens and England star, 27, has a torrid history with major injuries that have ruled him out for lengthy spells.

He openly admits he has been through some dark times mentally as he has struggled to cope.

But Lomax, who is now fit and well, says he has decided that if he cannot beat them he will join them.

The Saints man has started a degree in physiotherapy to help him understand his body better and help others in the future.

He said: “Being injured meant that

I had a lot of time to think and it was something I was interested in.

“It takes my mind away from rugby but also helps me out at the same time. It has given me a much better understanding.

“I can talk through issues and potential ideas with the physios and conditioners at Saints.

“It has helped me going forward in understanding what I am doing rather than ticking a box.

“If you have a balance of your body feeling right and you’re working hard then the rugby takes care of itself.”

Lomax had minor surgery after a calf injury which cut short his involvement in England’s march to the World Cup semi-finals after the opening game. In the past he has needed two major knee reconstructions and as a teenager he fractured his skull in a game and had a blood clot on the brain.

But this season he has played almost every game in Saints’ runaway Super League campaign.

He is also a major part of their plans to beat Catalans in next Sunday’s Challenge Cup semi-final.

He said: “Things have been going pretty well.

“I have strung games together and the more games you play the more your confidence builds.

“The confidence in knowing I can do more on the things I have injured in the past is important as it allows you to keep pushing for more.”

Saints have lost only twice all season and pulled off a sensational 14-12 last-gasp win over Warrington last Thursday after trailing for most of the game.

Lomax added: “Everyone is enjoying it and coming together at training and working hard. “That has been the key to why we are looking so confident.

“We know we have each other’s backs and working hard really allows the team to play to the best of their abilities.”