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{{Infobox rugby league biography
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| playername = Darren Lockyer
| playername = Darren Lockyer
| image = <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:DARLOC.jpg|165px|Darren Lockyer]] -->
| image = [[Image:Darren Lockyer cropped.jpg]]
| fullname = Darren Lockyer
| fullname = Darren Lockyer
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1977|3|24|df=yes}}
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1977|3|24|df=yes}}

Revision as of 06:00, 11 February 2008

Darren Lockyer
Personal information
Full nameDarren Lockyer
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)[1]
PositionFullback / Five-eighth

Darren Lockyer (born 24 March 1977 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league player and current captain of the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos sides. Widely considered one of the finest players in the modern game, Lockyer has played more games and scored more points for the Brisbane Broncos than any other player in the club's history.

Lockyer currently plays in the five-eighth position, having moved there from his previous position of fullback in 2004. Upon switching positions, Lockyer endured heavy criticism, but responded in 2006 with arguably his finest ever season, becoming the first person since Allan Langer (a former teammate) to captain winning teams in the National Rugby League premiership, the State of Origin series, and the Tri-Nations series all in the same year. Lockyer also won the golden boot award for the second time (at the time one of only two players to have done so).

Career

Early Years

As a child, Lockyer played Australian rules football in Brisbane before his parents moved west to Roma, Queensland,[5] a rugby league town that had no local Aussie Rules clubs. Having started his football career in Roma, playing for the Cities Gladiators, Lockyer made his first grade debut with the Broncos as an eighteen year-old five-eighth in 1995, winning the club's rookie of the year award. Lockyer quickly showed his versatility in the centres and at fullback, proving himself as a creative attacking player, a safe defender under the high ball and a skilled goal-kicker.

Fullback

Darren Lockyer playing for the Broncos in 2004.

Lockyer was moved permanently to fullback midway through the 1996 season. In 1997, he first gained representative honours for Queensland at fullback in their second Super League Tri-series match against New South Wales. The following year he became the regular Queensland Maroons' fullback for the State of Origin. He also played at fullback in the Broncos' premiership-winning teams of 1997, 1998 and 2000.

Lockyer's try-scoring and goal-kicking ability made him the top point-scorer for the club in 1997 and again in 1998 when he broke the Broncos' club record for most points in a season. In 2000, he was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for best and fairest player on the field in the Broncos' Grand Final win. Also that year he received the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in the sport of rugby league.[6]

Along with Lote Tuqiri and Chris Walker, Lockyer was the Broncos' top try-scorer in the 2002 season and won the club's player of the year award for both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He also won his first RLIF Golden Boot Award for the world's best international rugby league player in 2003. In addition, with the retirement of Gorden Tallis from representative football that year, Lockyer became the captain of both the Queensland and Australian teams.

File:Aus-shirt.GIF
Australian national rugby league team captain

Lockyer gained some negative media attention at the start of the 2004 season when he made a careless joke about the Bulldogs gang rape allegation at a Queensland sports function.[7] Being the Australian captain, Lockyer was rebuked by national officials and quickly apologised for the comment.

Five-eighth

In 2004, Broncos' coach Wayne Bennett moved Lockyer from fullback to five-eighth. This move saw mixed results for Lockyer. Initially, the move was generally supported, due to Lockyer's standing as a playmaker. However, as the season progressed, criticism developed that the defensive workload required at five-eighth was too large for him and that he should move back to his old position of fullback. In spite of this, Lockyer was adamant that his fullback days were behind him.[citation needed]

Experienced rugby league commentators continued questioning Lockyer's abilities as a five-eighth during representative matches. After a poor start to the 2006 season following a 36-4 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1, several critics argued that he should either switch to fullback or lose his spot on both the Australian and Queensland squad. There were also rumours that Johnathan Thurston would be chosen as the Queensland five-eighth, with Scott Prince at halfback.

However, after the ANZAC Test, in which Lockyer scored two tries in Australia's 50-12 defeat of New Zealand, the critics eased off. Lockyer's performances in the five-eighth position improved greatly in the weeks leading up to Origin, resulting in his selection as five-eighth and Captain for Origin 1.

Lockyer underwent further criticism when the Maroons lost to the Blues 17-16 after a poor first half. His position was again debated, but strong performances against the Bulldogs and the Warriors resulted in his retention in the Queensland side. Queensland then made an impressive comeback in Origin 2, thumping the Blues 30-6 while Lockyer received the Man of the Match award. He was then responsible for sealing the series victory for Queensland in the deciding match. With Queensland down 14-10 with 5 minutes remaining, Lockyer intercepted a pass from NSW player Brett Hodgson and scored the match-winning try. It was Queensland's first outright series victory since 2001 and also stopped New South Wales' from achieving their 4th consecutive Origin series win. After the match, Lockyer received the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.

File:QLD-shirt.gif
Queensland state rugby league team captain.

Immediately after Queensland's State of Origin success, the Broncos entered a 5-game losing streak, but bounced back to comfortably win their final three premiership games of the season. Despite losing to the St George Illawarra Dragons in the first week of the finals, the Broncos rebounded to defeat the Newcastle Knights 50-6. They then won the preliminary final against the Bulldogs 37-20 after trailing 20-6 at half-time, with Lockyer named man of the match.[8] He then steered his team to win the 2006 Grand Final 15-8, setting up both tries and then kicking a winning field goal in the 73rd minute.[9] This was Lockyer's fourth premiership, and the Broncos' sixth. Lockyer was also the Broncos' top try-scorer (together with Tame Tupou) for the 2006 season.

Lockyer then captained Australia to an extra-time victory in the Tri-nations final against New Zealand, scoring the match-winning try in Australia's 16-12 victory. In the process, he became the top try-scorer in Tri-Nations history with a tally of 9 tries.

In the week leading to the final, Lockyer won the RLIF Golden Boot Award for the second time. Lockyer was also named Dally M five-eighth and representative player of the year, the Broncos' best back, and people's choice player of the year, as well as being a finalist in the Queensland Sports Star of the Year award.

The Broncos, under Lockyer, lost the 2007 World Club Challenge to St Helens. This is the only major trophy that has eluded Lockyer since 1997.

Lockyer is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2009.[5]

Darren Lockyer has admitted he is more interested than ever in playing in Super League after watching the 2007 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.[10]

2007

In 2007, Lockyer injured his right ankle in Round 1 and was initially ruled out for 6 weeks. However, a fortnight later in Round 3, Lockyer made a surprise comeback for the Broncos against the Penrith Panthers. Lockyer injured his ankle again in Round 9 against the Sharks but he recovered in time to play in State of Origin 1 and defeat the New South Wales Blues.

In the Round 18 match against North Queensland, Lockyer ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, with the severity of the injury forcing him out for the rest of the 2007 season. He is scheduled to return for the March pre season games in 2008.[11][12]

2008

Lockyer has been strongly linked with a move to the European Super League at the conclusion of the 2008 NRL season. [13] Darren Lockyer has admitted he would like to play in Super League before he retires. [14] He has been linked with a moves to Bradford Bulls and Catalans Dragons. [15] Lockyer stated of his desire to move in the future, "Not just playing here but living in a different culture - it's appealing." [16] He admits he had his appetite for a stint in Britain whetted by the Challenge Cup final and that he would be open to offers from Super League clubs for his swansong. [17]

Following confirmation that coach Wayne Bennett will leave the Broncos at the end of 2008 has seen Lockyer linked with a number of clubs. [18]

Off the field

On October 27, 2007, Lockyer married Loren Pollock, his girlfriend of three years, coincidentally on the same day his immediate predecessor as Australian Test captain, Andrew Johns also tied the knot.

Honours / Career Highlights

Brisbane Broncos

  • First Grade Debut v Eels 1995
  • Club Rookie of the Year 1995
  • Member of the 1997 Super League World Club Challenge winning Broncos side.
  • Member of the 3rd Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 1997
  • Most points in one season: 272 in 1998
  • Member of the 4th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 1998
  • Member of the 5th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 2000
  • Clive Churchill Medal Winner 2000
  • Club Player of the Year 2002,2003
  • Changed Position from Fullback to Five-Eighth at start of 2004 at request of Wayne Bennett
  • Captain 2005-present
  • Dally M. Medal Five-Eighth of the Year 2006
  • Dally M. Medal Representitive Player of the Year 2006
  • Highest Ever Brisbane Point-Scorer with 1,077 Club Points (as of 1 October 2006)
  • Club Best Back Award 2001,2002,2003,2006
  • Member of the 6th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 2006 and also Captain.
  • Highest capped Broncos player
  • Dally M. Medal Five-Eighth of the Year 2007
Apps Tries Goals F/G Points Correct to
275 109 341/405 16 1,134 13 July 2007

Queensland Maroons

(Correct to July 5 2007)

  • Played in 27 State of Origin Games
  • Man of the Match 3 times
  • Played 2 Tri-Series Matches for Queensland during the 1997 Super League Season (1 goal; 2 points)
  • Captained in 13 State of Origin Games
  • Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series, 2006
  • 7 Tries from 27 Games
  • 22 from 30 Goals from 27 Games
  • 1 Field Goal from 27 Games
  • 73 Points from 27 Games
  • Part of the Series Winning Sides in 1998, 2001, 2006 and 2007 (also drawn series in 1999 and 2002)
  • Captain of the Series Winning Sides in 2001, 2006 and 2007
Apps Tries Goals F/G Points Correct to
27 7 22/30 1 73 4 July 2007

Australian Kangaroos

  • 36 Test Matches for Australia
  • Played in 4 test matches during the 1997 Super League Season (2 tries; 2 goals; 1 field goal; 13 points)
  • Australian Kangaroos Captain 2003-present (20 of his 36 games as captain)
  • 27 Tries
  • 2nd Highest Kangaroos try-Scorer behind Ken Irvine (33 tries).
  • 5 World Cup Matches for Australia
  • 2 Tries and 4 Goals in World Cup Matches
  • Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2003
  • Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2006
Apps Tries Goals F/G Points Correct to
36 27 27 2 164 20 April 2007
Template:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:Incumbent succession boxTemplate:S-awards
Sporting positions

Template:Incumbent succession box

Preceded by Captain
Queensland Maroons
2001 		Succeeded by
Gorden Tallis
2002 – 2003
Preceded by Clive Churchill Medallist
2000 		Succeeded by


References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Player profile of Darren Lockyer". National Rugby League. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  2. ^ "Player profile of Darren Lockyer". Brisbane Broncos. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  3. ^ Jeffs, Paul. "Darren Lockyer's NSWRL/ARL/Super League/NRL first grade points listing". stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  4. ^ a b Jeffs, Paul. "Queensland's State of Origin caps and points listing". stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  5. ^ a b Malone, Paul (2007-05-19). "The midas touch". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Darren Lockyer". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  7. ^ "Joke lands captain in trouble". News24. 2004-03-04. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Jackson, Glenn (2006-09-25). "Broncos stumble but don't fall". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Prichard, Greg (2006-10-02). "Bennett still the master". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Shea, Julian (2007-08-26). "Lockyer tempted by Cup challenge". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Lockyer out for the season". FoxSportsNews. 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Lockyer faces long injury lay-off". BBC News. 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Revealed: Get-out clause in Darren Lockyer's contract". Daily Telegraph. 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  14. ^ "Lockyer tempted by Super League". BBC. 2007-02-15. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  15. ^ "Lockyer tips French revival". RLWC 08. 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  16. ^ "Lockyer tempted by Cup challenge". RLWC 08. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  17. ^ "Lockyer ponders UK swansong". Daily Telegraph. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  18. ^ "Bennett To Finish In 2008". Brisbane Broncos. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-02-05.


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