Opinion
During the 2006 State of Origin series after being soundly beaten in Game 1, Mal Meninga called a meeting with his most experienced players Petereo Civonceiva, Steve Price and Darren Lockyer.
Those players were told in no uncertain terms if you don’t perform in this game it will be your last Origin game for the state. This was prior to the sentiment being shared by Phil Gould who wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald on the eve of the second game.
“It’s time for Queensland to ask Darren to step down from their State of Origin team. It’s always dangerous to criticise a champion and I’m not going to.
“I wouldn’t drop him, either, but I’d have a serious talk to him about his future and the future of the Queensland team.”
So, the series is level at 1-all heading into a decider in Melbourne with the pressure on Lockyer to perform. The rest is history. Brett Hodgson’s loose pass was intercepted by Lockyer who came out of nowhere in anticipation and scored for Queensland to go on to win the series.
The next eight, in fact.
Every playmaker in the NRL feels obliged to say the old cliché with the game on the line I want the ball in my hands. But in their heart of hearts not everyone wants it. Lockyer genuinely wanted the ball. Now this example is a bit of an anomaly as Queensland didn’t have the ball, but Lockyer was desperate enough to want it more than anyone else.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Unbeknownst to some but his crowning glory may have potentially become before that 2006 series. In 2003 the Australian Kangaroos played a three-Test series against Great Britain where Lockyer was named captain of that touring party.
Australia trailed in all three Tests. Australia however won all three Tests thanks largely to their captain. This was the first Test series where Lockyer went into the series as ‘the guy’.
Because prior to that he had the likes of Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns. Instead, this series he had with the greatest respect a less qualified halves pairing alongside him, those being Craig Gower and Brett Kimmorley. Lockyer still at fullback.
In the final test of the series Australia are down 12-6 with four minutes on the clock. Lockyer at first receiver on the fourth tackle swings down the shortside and puts a bullet on Michael ‘Stapples’ De Vere’s chest to score in the corner.
The scores are locked up.
In the 78th minute 12-all the score Lockyer on his on 40-meter line stands at first receiver gets a sloppy ball from acting half Danny Buderus however Lockyer scoops the ball up runs through the gap gets pulled down gets the offload away to the ‘utility with ability’ Craig Wing.
The play unfolds twenty meters downfield, the ball not dead. Lockyer doesn’t give up on the play, races downfield to receive an offload in contact from Kimmorley he then draws in three to pass to Luke Ricketson to score the decisive try.
Lockyer’s career is littered with these moments. The kick to the corner in the last play of the game to Denan Kemp against Parramatta in 2008. I could go on.
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