They named rookie utility Alex Glenn at halfback, only to move veteran back rower Tonie Carroll into the halves at the last minute. [51], In 2008, rugby league in Australia's centenary year, Lockyer was named at fullback in the Toowoomba and South West Team of the Century. Lockyer made his professional first-grade debut with the Brisbane Broncos from the bench as an eighteen-year-old five-eighth in a 60–14 thrashing of the Parramatta Eels in Round 13 of the 1995 ARL season. Brisbane were drawn the tough task of minor premiers Cronulla in the first week of the finals, and the Sharks gained revenge for 1997 with a 42-20 win to end the Broncos season. Early life. Lockyer did, however, win his 3rd and final Dally M Fullback Of The Year award. In 2005 Lockyer was also the Broncos' top point-scorer as they led the comp for a majority of the season, only for 2 losses at the end of the season consigning them to a 3rd place finish. Lockyer captained the Australian national team from five-eighth in the 2007 ANZAC Test match against New Zealand, scoring a try in the Kangaroos' 30–6 victory.

[32] In the process, he became the top try-scorer in Tri-Nations history with a tally of 9 tries. In addition he won the first of his Rugby League World Golden Boot Awards for the best international rugby league player that year. In 2018 he was given the captaincy of the Queensland Maroons for the series against the New South Wales Blues (2018). [50] In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century at fullback. [36], On 27 October 2007, Lockyer married Loren Pollock, his girlfriend of three years, coincidentally on the same day his immediate predecessor as Australian Test captain, Andrew Johns also tied the knot. Lockyer also made his debut for the Australian team against New Zealand,[13] becoming Kangaroo No. After performing well at Broncos pre-season training in January, Lockyer declared himself available for the full representative football calendar of 2011. [52]. Andrew "ET" Ettingshausen is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. An Australia international and Queensland State of Origin representative fullback, he played in the National Rugby League for Australian club, the North Queensland Cowboys, with whom he set the club's record for most matches, and in the Super League for English club, the Wigan Warriors. Darren pioneered the ball-playing fullback, the No. Lockyer was born in Brisbane, Queensland.

Darren Lockyer is a famous Australia rugby league player, who was born on March 23, 1977.As a person born on this date, Darren Lockyer is listed in our database as the 88th most popular celebrity for the day (March 23) and the 313th most popular for the year (1977). At the end of the 1997 season Lockyer made his international debut when he was selected to play at fullback for Australia in all three games of the Super League Test series against Great Britain in England.

He also worked as a bartender at the Broncos Leagues Club to make ends meet.

He traveled with the Australian national team to Europe for the 2005 Tri-Nations but injured his foot at training and missed the last few games of the tournament,[25] including Australia's loss to New Zealand in the final. This remains the only major trophy to have eluded him (notwithstanding the Broncos' victory in the Super League World Club Championship tournament of 1997). [9] He kicked two goals and one field goal during the series, which was won by Australia. Lockyer's performances in the five-eighth position improved greatly in the weeks leading up to the 2006 State of Origin series, resulting in his selection as five-eighth and captain for Game I. Lockyer underwent further criticism when the Maroons lost to the Blues 17–16 after a poor first half. Brisbane spent almost the entire 2002 season in the Top 4, finishing in 3rd place, as Lockyer, along with Lote Tuquiri and Chris Walker, led the team in tryscoring.

Without him, Brisbane crumbled from 5th to 8th and fell 40-0 to eventual premiers Melbourne in the Qualifying Final. An Australian and New Zealand international and Queensland State of Origin representative, he played for the Brisbane Broncos of the NRL and Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He was named the 2011 Brisbane Broncos season's player of the year. Returning to the Queensland side after a 1 year absence, Lockyer resumed his role as captain and led the Maroons to a record 4th consecutive series victory. He played rugby league for school and club in Wandoan for four years before moving to Roma and playing for the Cities Gladiators. Darren was selected for the following two games, Game 2, a loss, however led the Maroons to a nail-biting decider win of 34–24; ending his prolific Origin career on a high, with 6-straight series wins and a memorable speech. [11] He was again top point-scorer for Brisbane that year, smashing the club record of 193 for most points in a season by scoring 272. As a fullback, Lockyer won three grand finals and one as a Five Eighth with the Broncos (including a Clive Churchill Medal), a World Cup with Australia, and the Golden Boot Award for the world's best player. Lockyer was Queensland's fullback for all three games of their unsuccessful 2003 State of Origin series, scoring a try in the 25-12 Game 1 loss.

He previously played for the Queensland Reds. Karmichael Neil Matthew Hunt, nicknamed K, is a New Zealand-born Australian rugby union footballer who plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. At the end of the 2003 NRL season, the retirement of Australian national captain , Gorden Tallis, from representative football meant that the Kangaroos captaincy was handed to Lockyer shortly before the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Played in a record 36 State of Origin Games, Captained in 22 State of Origin Games (second only to Wally Lewis with 30), Part of the Series Winning Sides in 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (also drawn series in 1999 and 2002), Captain of the Series Winning Sides in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (injured for all three games in the 2008 series), Played in 4 test matches during the 1997 Super League Season (2 tries; 2 goals; 1 field goal; 13 points) which the Australian Rugby League does not count towards official test records, Highest Kangaroos try-Scorer with 35 tries, Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2003 (while playing fullback), Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2006 (while playing five-eighth), This page is based on the Wikipedia article. On Origin's website Darren is investigating the coal seam gas industry for himself. [24] Being the Australian captain, Lockyer was rebuked by national officials and quickly apologised for the comment. Unfortunately, these matches do not count towards his official representative statistics as the IRLF refused to validate Super League internationals as test matches, even though the NRL recognises Super League matches as official first grade appearances. [51], In 2008, rugby league in Australia's centenary year, Lockyer was named at fullback in the Toowoomba and South West Team of the Century.[52]. [3] During his 17-year career he set appearance records for his club, state and country, and also set additional all-time records for most National Rugby League appearances, most State of Origin appearances, most games as captain and most tries for the Australian national team, and highest ever point-scorer for the Broncos. However, experienced commentators continued questioning Lockyer's value as a five-eighth during representative matches. This series highlighted how Lockyer over time; has become more and more effective and comfortable in his game-dominating five-eighth role, despite losing much of his renowned athleticism after his 2007 knee injury. Lockyer was Queensland's fullback for all three games of their unsuccessful 2003 State of Origin series. [41] He was named Australian captain and was considered one of the 2008 World Cup 'Players to Watch' by NRL Live.

Inglis' representative matches for Queensland and Australia have been as a wing, centre, and fullback. He also worked as a bartender at the Broncos Leagues Club to make ends meet.

They were introduced to the NSWRL's Winfield Cup premiership in 1988, taking the competition by storm in winning their first six games. However, after the ANZAC Test, in which Lockyer scored two tries in Australia's 50–12 defeat of New Zealand, the critics eased off. Lockyer's knee injury was worse than first thought- his decision to play on after the initial ACL rupture resulted in his knee cartilage being damaged, forcing extra surgeries which saw him racing against the clock to start the 2008 NRL season. Background. Member of the 5th Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 2000 (Broncos defeated Roosters 14–6), Changed Position from Fullback to Five-Eighth at start of 2004 at request of, Highest Ever Brisbane Point-Scorer with 1,220 Club Points (as of End of 2007 Season). A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, he previously played for the Melbourne Storm, with whom he won two grand finals, a Clive Churchill Medal and the Golden Boot Award; he is an indigenous Australian. Lockyer also made his debut for the Australian team against New Zealand, [13] becoming Kangaroo No. Lockyer in 2010, captained Queensland to their record-breaking fifth straight series win. Lockyer was born in Brisbane, Queensland. [53] Also, the Queensland State Government agreed to sculpting a life size bronze statue of Darren Lockyer in honour of his achievements in Queensland Rugby League [54] which since 2012 has been standing next to 'The King', Wally Lewis outside Lang Park. Lockyer underwent surgery to repair the cheekbone and tried everything to ensure he played the Preliminary Final- even flying from Brisbane to Sydney by helicopter so he could stay at a low altitude. Brisbane beat the Titans 40-32 in the Qualifying Final, tying the record for highest scoring final that they had set in 2001, and set up a semi final showdown with Bennet's Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. He was scheduled to return for the March pre season games in 2008. He was named the 2003 Brisbane Broncos season's best player. Member of the 3rd Broncos Premiership Winning Team in 1997 (Broncos defeated Sharks 26–8, Lockyer scored 5 goals; 10 points). He was then responsible for sealing the series victory for Queensland in the deciding match.

Lockyer scored his first finals try in the loss, and continued his rich tryscoring form with another in a 30-6 win over Melbourne, before he scored a spectacular hat trick in a 46-18 win over the Roosters to help Brisbane secure second consecutive Grand Final berth. Lockyer kicked 10 goals from 13 attempts across those 2 matches, bringing his season tally to 8 tries and 70 goals. That hope was renewed when Brisbane led minor premiers Melbourne 14-12 in the dying stages of the Semi Final, only for a late Greg Inglis try to end Brisbane's season- and leave Lockyer showing a rare display of emotion behind the goal line.