JONNY CALM ON WORLD CUP CALL
JONNY LOMAX is favourite to be handed the England full-back shirt for their opening Rugby League World Cup game against Australia.
But the St Helens star is refusing to take anything for granted – because he has been burned too many times before in his time in the game.
Incredibly, Lomax has been told on four separate occasions that his playing career was ® probably over. And every time, the 27-year-old has battled his way back despite having to contend with huge mental and physical stress.
Even though he is now on the verge of a World Cup match, Lomax says he won’t believe it until it actually happens.
He said: “After the things I’ve had to endure, you realise you have got to take what comes and not look too far ahead.
“I know that life can sometimes be a rocky road and that you have to deal with whatever is thrown at you, so I never take anything for granted.”
Lomax suffered a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain after suffering a head injury during a game when he was 14.
Doctors never expected him to play again but Lomax was determined to become a professional, and he was signed by Saints two years later.
Then two major knee reconstruction operations in 2014 and 2015 threatened to derail his career again.
Lomax, who made his England debut last year, said: “When I did my knee the second time I thought that was potentially it in terms of playing rugby. It was the fourth time I had been told that it wasn’t going to happen for me and I thought I’d never play for England, never mind anybody else.
“So I know that I’m in a privileged position to be going to the World Cup and it’s something I’m very proud of.”
England kick off the World Cup with their Group A clash against the Kangaroos on Friday, October 27.