Comments from Paul Rowley have clarified Jonny Lomax’s status at St Helens after the playmaker was replaced as captain by prop Matty Lees.
Heading into his testimonial year with the club, England international Matty Lees will captain St Helens, a decision that marks a new era for the Red Vee.
Jonny Lomax took on the captaincy after James Roby’s retirement but he’s passed the baton onto Lees, a call that will have seen some fans questioning what it all means for the veteran playmaker.
Lomax is 35 and has just one year left on his contract plus St Helens have signed former Super League Man of Steel Jackson Hastings, creating more competition for places in the halves.
At times in 2025, Lomax was dropped from the squad with teenager George Whitby replacing him at one point and this latest captaincy call could have added to the speculation but head coach Paul Rowley has offered clarity.
Jonny Lomax cedes St Helens’ captaincy with classy words
Within the St Helens’ club announcement that Lees would be the club’s new skipper, Paul Rowley started by paying tribute to Jonny Lomax with his comments concluding by noting that Lomax “will remain with the club”.
Rowley said: “Firstly, I would like to recognise Jonny Lomax, a champion captain who has now passed the reins to another brilliant Saints man.
“For over a decade, Jonny has been an outstanding leader at this club, even before becoming captain. He has always displayed a team-first mentality and has demonstrated it once again by handing the captaincy to Matty Lees. Jonny will remain with the club to support and nurture his good friend into this next era.”
Lees had also noted that it was an “emotional moment” receiving Lomax’s blessing to take on the role and Saints have since shared footage of the moment Lomax confirmed Leeds as the new skipper to the squad.
The playmaker said: “I’ve had a lot of proud moments at this club and none more so than what is going to come here. Moving forward, we’re going to have a new captain. It’s going to be this man here Leesy.
“I think we all agree that he’s someone we follow anyway. He epitomises everything that I think is good about this club and I think if we’re being honest, we all want to be a little bit like Leesy.”
The decision to move the captaincy to Lees is one that has multiple reasons behind it, the marking of a new era, which is something that Lomax initially noted, but also a transition in personnel.
Whether Lomax does or doesn’t secure a starting role in the halves this year, it’s evident that father time will come calling and he’ll be retiring sooner rather than later, therefore changing to a younger captain makes sense.
If Lomax moves to the Moses Mbye role, as many expect whereby he plays as the utility, it means he will be off the pitch so having a captain such as Lees who plays long minutes is far more important in the Captain’s Challenge era of Super League.
Of course, there’s still a chance that Lomax can force his way into the halves but the competition seems stiff with Tristan Sailor, Jackson Hastings and young gun George Whitby all vying for one of two spots alongside Lomax.
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— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) December 1, 2025
