Darren Lockyer
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Lockyer | |
| Date of birth | March 24, 1977 | |
| Place of birth | Brisbane, Australia | |
| Height | 1.78 m | |
| Weight | 86 kg | |
| Position | Five-Eighth, Fullback | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Brisbane Broncos | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| Roma Cities | ||
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (points) |
| 1995-present | Brisbane | 261 (1077) |
| Representative teams** | ||
| 1998-2006 1998-2006 |
Queensland Australia |
24 (69) 34 |
|
* Professional club appearances and points |
||
Darren Lockyer (born March 24, 1977, Roma, Queensland) is a rugby league player and is the current captain of the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australian rugby league teams and is considered to be the greatest player in the history of Rugby League. He is one of the most criticized players of recent time, saying he is better at his old position of Fullback. Lockyer has fought back at his critics and been a great example, supporter and inspirational help to the Broncos, the Maroons and the Kangaroos.
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Details
- Age: 29
- Date of Birth: March 24, 1977
- Height: 178cm (1.78m)
- Weight: 86kg
- First Grade Games: 261
- First Senior Football Club: Roma Cities
- First Grade Clubs: Brisbane Broncos
- Representative Honours:
- Queensland (Super league) (1997)
- Queensland Maroons (1998-2006)
- Australia (Super league) (1997)
- Australia (1998-2006)
- Tries: 107
- Goals: 318
- Field Goals: 13
- Points: 1077
[edit] Club Football
Darren Lockyer made his first grade debut at Five-Eighth for the Brisbane Broncos in 1995 before being moved to Fullback midway through the 1996 season and played in their premiership winning teams of 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2006. With the retirement of Gorden Tallis, Lockyer has become the captain of both the Broncos and the Queensland team.
In 2004, Broncos' coach Wayne Bennett moved Lockyer from fullback to five-eighth. This move has seen mixed results for Lockyer, initially it was described as a masterstroke and by the end of 2004 he was being earmarked by many as the world's best player. Recently however criticism has developed that the defensive workload required at five-eighth is too large for him and that he should move back to his old position of fullback. In spite of this Lockyer is adamant that his fullback days are behind him. With the large amount of suggestions that Lockyer should be moved back to fullback, he has hit back in the best possible way; playing some of the best football that we have seen from him in, five-eighth.
Experienced and biased Rugby League commentators continue to question Lockyer's abilities as a five-eighth during repesenative matches. After a poor start to the 2006 season after a 36-4 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1, critics have really started to push him in relations to moving to fullback and losing his spot on both the Australian and Queensland squad. It was said that the Queensland selectors would have Jonathon Thurston at Five-Eighth, and Scott Prince at halfback, who has not played State of Origin after the 2004 series loss, and being dumped to make way for Jonathon Thurston.
However, after the ANZAC test, with Australia defeating New Zealand 50-12, critics have eased off for the moment. Darren Lockyer made a huge comeback with some of the best performances at his Five-Eighth spot, and eventually change the Queensland selectors minds. They accepted Darren Lockyer as Five-Eighth and Captain.
More pressure and critism came onto Darren Lockyer after the Maroons lost to the Blues 17-16, while suffering a very poor start to the first half. Darren Lockyer was eligable for losing his position again, but since improved in Bronco matches, defeating the Bulldogs 25-6, then the Warriors 23-18, Darren Lockyer then retained his spot on the Queensland side. Critics kept going on about Darren Lockyer making an impressive comeback in Origin, thumping the Blues 30-6, which resulted in the NSW selectors and the coach scratching their heads. Darren Lockyer was name the Man of the Match. He later cemented his position as one of the all-time greats by scoring the series winning try in game three and receiving the Wally Lewis medal (man of the series honours) in the deciding State of Origin match (July 5th 2006).
In the latter half of the season of the Brisbane Broncos 2006, After a 5 losing game slump, the Broncos found guidence under Lockyer and won their final three premiership games of the season. All three games, the Broncos won easily, 30-0 over the Canterbury Bulldogs, 23-0 over the Parramatta Eels and 36-12 over the New Zealand Warriors. Lockyer was sterring his team to a 6th Priemiership success. Lockyer was awarded man of the match award in the prelimenry final against Canterbury Bulldogs after leading the side to a miraculous comeback win after trailing 20-6 down to come up 37-20. Lockyer then steered his team to win the 2006 Grand Final with the score 15-8, setting both tries and then kicking a winning field goal in the 73rd minute. This is the 4th time he personally won a premiership and the 6th time overall for the Broncos. The win completed a dream year for him in which he captained not only the Broncos to the NRL premiership but also Queensland to an Origin series and the Anzac Test win early in the year. He will now lead his country to reclaim the Tri-Series trophy starting in later 2006.
[edit] International Football
Lockyer made his Test debut on 26 September 1997 when Australia (Superleague) played New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. Although he scored two tries, Australia went down 30-12. Also played in all three Tests against Great Britain national rugby league team that year.
His first match for the Kangaroos was in 1998, and was once more against the Kiwis.
Darren Lockyer was made captain of the Australian side in 2003 for the Kangaroo tour of Great Britain due to injury to then captain Andrew Johns and the international retirement of Bronco's teammate Gorden Tallis. Lockyer had a hand in each of Australia's three close wins. In 2004 he had a notably dominant performance in the Tri Nations final against Great Britain, having a hand in all 6 first half tries, on route to a 44-4 thumping. In 2005 he had little luck with injuries while on Tri-nations duty abroad, injuring himself and missing most of the British leg of the tour, including the Kangaroo's shock 24-0 loss to New Zealand in the Tri Nations final. However, he returned in the 2006 test match between Australia and New Zealand, in which he contributed 2 tries in his sides comprehensive 50-12 victory after playing the majority of the second half at his old position of fullback.
[edit] 2006 Tri-Series
Darren Lockyer was selected for the Australian Tri-Nations 23-man squad just days after the 2006 NRL Grand Final. He was also picked as captain of the Australian team as they attempt to regain the Tri-Nations, after New Zealand won it in 2005. He was selected as captain and Five-Eighth for the first game against the Kiwis on 14 October. It is expected that Lockyer will work well with Queensland Maroons teammates Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith. On October 13, Australian coach Ricky Stuart said that if Darren Lockyer steers the Kangaroos to regain the Tri-Nations, he will be one of the greatest players in the 100-year history of Rugby League.
[edit] Honours / Career Highlights
[edit] Brisbane Broncos
- Broncos Captain 2005-present
- Broncos Highest Ever Point-Scorer with 1077 Club Points (as of 1 October 2006)
- First Grade Debut v Eels 1995
- Dally M. Medal Five-Eighth of the Year 2006
- Dally M. Medal Representitive Player of the Year 2006
- Changed Position from Fullback to Five-Eighth at start of 2004 at request of Wayne Bennett
- Club Player of the Year 2002,2003
- Club Rookie of the Year 1995
- Club Best Back Award 2001,2002,2003,2006
- Clive Churchill Medal Winner 2000
- Member of the 3rd Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 1997
- Member of the 4th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 1998
- Member of the 5th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 2000
- Member of the 6th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 2006 and also Captain.
[edit] Queensland Maroons
- 24 State of Origin Games (correct to July 5 2006)
- Queensland Maroons Captain on 10 2001,2004-present (10 of his 24 games as captain)(correct to July 5 2006)
- Wally Lewis Man of the Series, 2006 Series
- 6 Tries from 24 Games (correct to July 5 2006)
- 22 from 30 Goals from 24 Games (correct to July 5 2006)
- 1 Field Goal from 24 Games (correct to July 5 2006)
- 69 Points from 24 Games (correct to July 5 2006)
- Part of the Series Winning Sides in 1998
- Part of the Series Winning Sides in 2001, also Captain
- Part of the Series Winning Sides in 2006, also Captain
[edit] Australia Kangaroos
- 34 Test Matches for Australia (correct to November 18 2006)
- Australian Kangaroos Captain 2003-present (18 of his 34 games as captain)(correct to November 18 2006)
- 25 Tries from 34 games (correct to November 18 2006)
- 3rd Highest Kangaroos try-Scorer behind Reg Gasnier (26 tries), Ken Irvine (33 tries).
| Preceded by: Gorden Tallis 2001-2004 |
Captain Brisbane Broncos rugby league 2005- |
Succeeded by: incumbent |
[edit] Sources
| Brisbane Broncos |
|---|
| The Club Representatives | History | Records Honours | Players | Venues |
| Broncos Seasons 1988 | 1989 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| Broncos Stadiums Lang Park/Suncorp Stadium | ANZ Stadium |
| Broncos Captains Wally Lewis (1988-1989) | Gene Miles (1990-1991) | Allan Langer (1992-1999) Kevin Walters (1999-2000) | Gorden Tallis (2001-2004) | Darren Lockyer (2005-present) |
| Broncos Coaches Wayne Bennett (1988-present) |
