Darren Lockyer has emerged as one of the brightest prospects the game of rugby league has seen. An electrifying kick returner, Lockyer shapes as a readymade five-eighth and captain replacement when Allan Langer and Kevin Walters finally hang up their boots.
Along with an outstanding passing game, Lockyer has an excellent long kicking game and is an accomplished goalkicker with a respectable strikerate of around 65%. A solid defender, Lockyer is a tremendous all round player.
His meteoric rise began in 1995, really hitting the big time in 1997 when he represented Queensland and Australia. He continued that form on in 1998 and, in bad news for opposition supporters, he still has a way to go to reach his potential.
1999 started slowly for the brilliant fullback, with a knee injury constantly causing him grief. A broken cheekbone ruled him out for a few weeks and he came back with a bang, playing his best football. He went on to blow Great Britain and New Zealand away in the end of season Tri-Nations series to cement his place as the country's number 1 fullback.
Lockyer climbed every mountain in 2000, becoming the club's chief playmaker and inspiration. Lockyer missed just four games for Brisbane in 2000, three during the Origin series and the final round loss to Sydney Roosters. Significantly, those were four of the Broncos only six losses for the season.
2000 finished with Lockyer receiving the Clive Churchill Medal for player of the Grand Final, and going to England with the triumphant World Cup side.
Club vice captain in 2001, Lockyer will be hoping to continue his rapid rise - at just 23 he is already the best fullback in the world and the brightest star in the NRL.
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