Australian Test skipper Darren Lockyer has given the NRL a much needed shot in the arm after declaring no amount of money would tempt him to defect to rugby union.
Lockyer, off contract at the end of next season and on the brink of setting a new record for most appearances for the Broncos, left no-one in any doubt when asked if he would consider a code switch in 2010.
“No. Rugby league’s given me so many great things and this club has as well, so there might be an opportunity out there to make a bit more money but I think I owe the club and game plenty.
“So I’m not going to leave the game to chase some bigger cheque.”
Given the saga of Sonny Bill Williams walking out on his five-year deal with the Bulldogs to chase the big money in French rugby union, Lockyer’s show of loyalty could not have come at a better time for the NRL.
A number of players had reportedly shown interest in making the switch in the aftermath of Williams’ dramatic departure, which is believed to be worth $2 million over two years.
Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen said “for that sort of money I’d dance for them if they wanted me to.”
Lockyer sent shivers through the corridors of NRL headquarters last month when he admitted he would be forced to weigh up all his options when it came time for renegotiation.
That was on the back of St George Illawarra skipper Mark Gasnier announcing his intention to head to French club Stade Francais next season.
It now appears Lockyer will either stay for a 16th season at the Broncos in 2010 – by which time he’ll be 32 – or head to the English Super League for a well-paid swansong.
Lockyer’s 298th appearance in a Broncos jumper against St George Illawarra on Friday night will break the previous record held by former Test winger Michael Hancock.
Of those games 286 have been in the NRL/Super League, with the other 11 in various world club challenge matches.
Just how close he gets to Terry Lamb’s 349-game NRL record could well depend on the dodgy right knee that has restricted him to only 12 matches this season.
“I wouldn’t give (my future) too much thought until probably midway through next year when we have to decide what my next contract will be,” Lockyer said.
“I’m not thinking about 300 (games) or breaking any records … if I happen to pass those sort of records then that’s great, and I’ll look back one day when I do hang the boots up and be happy with that achievement.
“But at this stage it’ll be this year and next year with the Broncos, and beyond that we don’t know yet.”
Just what Williams’ future holds is even more uncertain after the runaway Bulldog made his rugby union debut with Toulon on the weekend.
Representatives of the NRL served Williams with the NSW Supreme Court imposed injunction after the match, a legal barrier to his playing for anyone but the Bulldogs.
NRL officials said matter was in somewhat of a holding pattern as they awaited Williams’ next move.
Should he play in Toulon’s next friendly against Toulouse early Friday morning Australian time, Williams would be in contempt of court.
The NRL said it was still anticipating Williams would accept the court order.
Recidivist
Guest
As a sports fan, I still can't understand how the NRL allowed Daren Lockyer to keep the Australian captaincy when he said the following joke: "St George, they won 11 premierships with one Raper. Imagine how many Canterbury will win." I am glad he is staying where that type of joke is forgiven, especially when all of us have mothers, and some have sisters.
Harry
Guest
Onya Locky a true champion. As a suffering Reds supporter I hope the Brisbane Bronco's reward your loyalty by topping up your current contract and thus leaving not enough money for Karmichael Hunt, who can come on back to rugby and join his fellow Churchie old boy Quade Cooper at the Reds - would be a great 13 or, even better, 15.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Good for Darren Lockyer. i think icons of a particular sport owe a duty to that sport. I was opposed to Andrew Johns switching codes for two reasons: first, like Lockyer, he was too banged up to have much of a career in rugby union: second, that the swtich would compromise his place as one of the greats of rugby league. Both these reasons apply to Darren Lockyer. But they do not apply to players like Greg Inglis (who has changed his views on playing rugby union after he became aware of the huge amounts of money that could be available to him) and Sonny Bill Williams, both young enough to give the other code a fair crack and not yet icons in rugby league. As for Paul Gallen switching codes. Rugby union doesn't want a skill-less thug like Gallen. Hopefully no RU club anywhere in the world would be stupid enough to make him an offer he can't refuse.