Before the year is out there will be two bronze statues side-by-side at Suncorp, the old Lang Park – Wally Lewis, and Lockyer – testimony to their greatness.
And the inevitable comparisons will be aired over umpteen beers, for umpteen years.
It’s an argument no-one can win. Comparing footballers a generation apart can only be subjective in the eyes of the beholder.
If it’s cold hard statistics, Lockyer romps in. If it’s how one footballer single-handedly changed the face of rugby league, especially at Origin level, Lewis reigns supreme.
One thing for sure, both Lewis, and Lockyer, will be revered as rugby league icons on and off the field for as long as the 13-man code is played.
Lewis is rightfully one of seven Immortals with Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Bobby Fulton, Graeme Langlands, and Artie Beetson.
Lockyer thoroughly deserves to join them for posterity.
The cold hard facts – * denotes record:
* Kangaroo caps – Lockyer 55* – Lewis 33.
* Kangaroo captain – Lockyer 34* – Lewis 23.
* Tries scored for Kangaroos – Lockyer 34* – Lewis 11.
* Kangaroo Team-of-the-Century – Lewis named five-eighth – Lockyer not named in 17-man squad, nor was any current player.
* Golden Boot – International Player-of-the-Year – Lockyer 2* (2003 and 2006) shared with Andrew Johns 1999 and 2001 – Lewis 1, inaugural winner in 1984.
* State of Origin caps – Lockyer 36* – Lewis 31.
* Queensland captain – Lewis 30* – Lockyer 22.
* Most Origin series victories – Lockyer 9* – Lewis 9*.
* Most Origin Man-of-the-Match awards – Lewis 8* – Lockyer 4.
* Most club games – Lockyer 350* to be set tonight against the Cowboys at Townsville, all with the Broncos – Lewis 301 with Fortitude Valley (135), Wakefield Trinity (10), Wynnum-Manly (76), Broncos (46), and Gold Coast 34.
* Premierships – Lockyer 4* with Broncos – Lewis 1 with Wynnun-Manly.
Quotes from the subjective:
On Lewis:
“Lewis has to be number one because he is the only bloke who dominated the game at the highest level over a long period,” Ray Warren, veteran television caller.
“Lewis is the greatest at representative level I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some greats – I was there with Gaz (Reg Gasnier), and Chook (Johnny Raper) at the end of their careers,” Artie Beetson – Immortal.
On Lockyer:
“The manner he’s played his football, week in, week out, to me is just about unsurpassed. To play 350 games, the guy has never had a bad season. Even when he’s playing bad, he still looks good,” doyen coach Wayne Bennett.
“Locky’s earned the right to be an Immortal – absolutely. If there is one person I’ve admired over many years in rugby league, it is Darren Lockyer,” Terry Lamb, whose 349 first grade games Lockyer surpasses tonight.
The comparisons have just begun.
the latte kid
Guest
Lewis, Sterling, Langer, Kenny, Daley, Fittler, Miles and Meninga are much more deserving of Immortal status then Lockyer, Lockyer played in a weak era and his defensive skills were always shaky.
tony
Guest
well said ken.
Fraser
Guest
Lewis and Johns could make your heart stop, whether you were going for their team or not. They were magicians. Lockeyer is a leader of men. He would do what was needed, when it was needed for his team. The main difference between them I guess is that whenLewis/ Johns were on fire they would blow away the opposition. Lockeyer, would do just what it was needed to get his team over the line. Lockeyer has probably won more close games for his team than Lewis/Johns. And he always, always stood up, when his team needed him the most. I will remember King Lockeyer not for his days of glory with the Broncos and most recently with the Maroons. He will always remain in my heart for those times he would single handedly carry Queensland on his back. Queensland had no Inglis, Slater, Thurston or Smith yet. They had a makeshift team that sported Berrigan and Daniel Wagon in the Halves!!! No match for Johns and co……. Locky never left us for England, switched codes for a bigger pay packet or gave up…He always gave his fans hope and Qld a fighting chance in their lowest times. Those days are gone now and victory has been Oh so sweet the last 5 years!!! Hail King Lockeyer!!! You will live always in my heart for those times when your team and fans needed you the most and you were always there. I will die a happy man knowing……..I lived in the days of the King Darren Lockeyer.
Gaz
Guest
I believe it all comes down to the players legacy. Awards are nice but sometimes ill placed like Orfords.
Bryan Siprokau
Guest
I am a diehard broncos fan.my best player is lockey.whenever broncos plays either on friday nite or on sunday,im always in front of my tv screen back home in port moresby.no matter what others may say about him..locky is the legend.
Isaminger
Roar Rookie
I think Mushi and Ken have missed the point here. This article does not rely on the "cold hard facts" to say that Lockyer is better than Lewis. In fact, if you read the article, it does not even provide an opinion on this comparison. It appears that you yourselves have drawn such a conclusion. Also, Ken, I think if you looked at Johns' record you would see that he really only beats Lockyer on the Dally M front (Golden Boot, Clive Churchill, Rep Player of the Year, SOO MoM awards equal for both)...
Ksi
Guest
4 includes super league in 1997. But he will make it 5 in 2011. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
corey
Guest
And what about Lockyer winning the Super League as well, that makes 5 premierships in the hardest and closest competition in the world, with salary cap restraints.
David Lord
Guest
Mushi, you just don't get it, do you? The story is how Darren worshipped Wally as a kid to the point he wore a cut to size jersey, the two of them became legends for Queensland and the Kangaroos a generation apart, but for eternity their statues at Suncorp will be side-by-side - generation gapless.
Ken
Guest
Of course but you've got to put that aside to even buy into these discussions
Renegade
Guest
Let's not forget Lockyer has had a positional switch from Fullback to the number 6 jersey as well which he did with ease......in my opinion he should be the next immortal. I don't follow the broncos and i'm a New South Welshmen however i admire Lockyer more than any other player based on not only footballing talent which he has showcased by getting which ever team he plays for across the line when it's needed but also his outstanding leadership qualities. It can only be justified by rugby league immortality.
mushi
Guest
sorry about the spelling. I just find this cold hard facts analysis almost laughable.
mushi
Guest
Yep now try the other guy and his apparent lone premiership with Wynnum Manly
mushi
Guest
Also coampring tries across earas and two comepltely different styles of play is kind of tangental.
Ken
Guest
Just to get it out of the way, Darren Lockyer has been a great player with amazing longevity and seems to be a top bloke to boot. But.... your stat comparison to Lewis highlights the same thing that was shown when Lockyer is compared to Johns on stats. He beats them on longevity but loses out on individual awards (MOtM, Dally M's, Golden Boot etc) despite the extra games he has played. That he got any of these awards, and multiple ones at that, points him out as one of the best players of his generation - but his haul is considerably smaller than these other players considered some of the best of all time. Stats aren't everything of course but for me this does ring true. The current calls for him to be made an instant immortal are very similar to the ones that rang out when Meninga, Fittler and Joey retired. And they will be correctly ignored just like those calls were, so that the judgement can be made after the emotion of his retirement has passed. When that day comes I think he deserves consideration but think there's a fair list of players in front of him.
Ksi
Guest
Premierships are right. 1997, 1998, 2000 & 2006. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
mushi
Guest
For starter the premierships are wrong if you had even a passing interest in his career you’d know this so for me it puts you in a position of ignorance regarding one of the people you are comparing. The strength of lockyer's career is longevity rather than pure outright brilliance. How about we wait 10 years and see how his legend matures before annointing him
Damo
Guest
Totally agree
Jason Cave
Guest
It's a shame the ARL doesn't have a Kangaroo Tour to Great Britain & France anymore, because I reckon that would've been the ideal way for Darren Lockyer to bow out. Win a 5th State of Origin series with Queensland is one thing, but being on a victorious Kangaroo Tour to Britain & France is the ideal finisher to a wonderful career.
oikee
Guest
These things normally take time anyhow, to me, i have never been disappointed by any game Lockyer has been involved, this is probably his greatest assert to the game. Also pleased to see him finish the game as he started the game, strong. Sad to see him retire, but all good things must come to a end, been a pleasure. Genuine nice guy, not many about,.