IT has been an agonising and often frustrating time for Saints number one Jonny Lomax, who missed last year’s run to the Grand Final after needing surgery on ruptured cruciate ligaments.

But having got two warm up games under his belt, the 24-year-old full back is fit and raring to go for what will be a landmark Super League season with the big games coming thick and fast.

And Lomax is not short of motivation having had to watch his team do the lap of honour around Old Trafford last term – this year he is as keen as most to be running around with them and that biog silver pot.

Lomax said: “It is an exciting year to look forward to. Although it was disappointing to miss out last year but being able to celebrate with the lads was awesome.

“Having played two and lost two, I want to be involved in a winning one – that is a driver for me to be on the field and get another chance.

“Me and Jon (Wilkin) had some low times in the week leading up to last year’s Grand Final and some high times after winning it - it was a week of ups and downs. “They are the games you want to play in – it’s what you make all the sacrifices for so it is disappointing to miss out.”

Lomax knew exactly what he facing when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Perpignan in the drubbing by Catalan last summer having had a similar operation on his other knee when he was 17.

“Knowing that I’d done that again but on the other was a hard time and seriously upsetting.

“It was the that I’d have to go through all that all over again and deal with those demons and the ups and downs of that injury.

“Generally the pain is the easy bit, it is the mental anguish that is the hard bit.

“It was hard, knowing that I had that to come but as it progressed and I began rehabbing it was also good because I knew my other knee had been so good since the operation for past seven years.

“And that gives me confidence that this one will.

“There have been no ill effects – I came out of the pre-season fitness test really well given that I had missed so much training with the injury and then the operation – still came out top four or five and that gave me that confidence because fitness wise I was there and the knee strong.”

Defending champions Saints have a testing start to the campaign with the visit of a Catalans Dragons team featuring former Dally M medal winner Todd Carney.

Lomax expects the Dragons to be breathing fire for Friday’s Super League opener.

“Catalans have signed really well and they are definitely going to be a tough team to play this year and they could cause a lot of upsets.

“Todd Carney is a great play an ex-Dally M winner and there’s not many of them coming over here,” Lomax said.

A good start to the campaign is more important than ever given how way the league is now structured, with the top eight splitting off after 23 rounds.

But Saints have another good reason to hit the ground running – with South Sydney Rabbitohs heading to Langtree Park on February 22.

It is the pinnacle of the World Series, with Saints keen to make it a third trophy in six months.

It is a prospect that delights Lomax as much as anyone, particularly since he missed out on last year’s finale.

“Everyone got caught up with winning the Grand Final and it was only later when I was doing rehab that it dawned that I had a chance of playing in Souths and that makes you strive to get back fit as soon as possible.

“There is massive excitement about the Bunnies coming and it is a game that all want to play in. Games like this don’t come around that often.

“It is a big occasion and it should be exciting and sure there will nerves on the day,” he said.

He will no doubt be helped with those nerves and his preparation by the new coaching team of Keiron Cunningham and Sean Long, as well as former skipper Paul Wellens, who all played key roles in the club’s previous two World Club triumphs.

But generally speaking he has enjoyed working under the new coaching set up.

“People want to play for those kind of people(Long and Cunningham),and to still have Wello there too is great. Wello is massive to have around the club because everyone looks up to him.

“A lot of us young lads have stood in the stands watching the people running the team. The pride and passion those people have for the club can become infectious – especially for those lads who are not from St Helens.

“Wello’s experience and his composure is incredible and he has that calming effect on people. That’s why he is brilliant to have around and that will be fantastic for my development as well.

“It is good to have him around because of what he can still offer to the team on and off the field.

“He is a tremendous competitor and people want to follow him,” he said.