Darren Lockyer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Darren Lockyer

Personal information
Full name	Darren James Lockyer
Born	(1977-03-24) 24 March 1977 (age 48) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb)
Position	Five-eighth, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995–2011 Brisbane Broncos 355 122 341 21 1195 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1997 Queensland (SL) 2 0 1 0 2 1997 Australia (SL) 4 2 2 1 13 1998–2011 Queensland 36 9 22 2 82 1998–2011 Australia 59 35 31 2 204 2010–2011 NRL All Stars 2 0 0 0 0

Darren James Lockyer (born 24 March 1977) is a famous Australian television commentator and former professional rugby league player. He played his entire career with the Brisbane Broncos. Darren Lockyer was a captain for both the Australian national team and the Queensland State of Origin team. Many people think he is one of the best five-eighths ever.

During his 16-year career, he set many records. These include the most games played for his club, state, and country. He also holds records for the most National Rugby League (NRL) games, most State of Origin series games, most games as captain, and most tries for Australia.

As a fullback (fullback), Lockyer helped the Broncos win three grand finals. He won another grand final as a five-eighth. He also won a World Cup with Australia. He received the Rugby League World Golden Boot Award for the world's best player. He was even named as a fullback in Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century. In 2004, he changed his position to five-eighth (five-eighth). After this change, he won another grand final with the Broncos. He also won five more State of Origin series with Queensland and a second Golden Boot Award.

Darren Lockyer's Early Life and Rugby League Journey

Darren Lockyer in Brisbane.

Darren Lockyer was born in Brisbane, Queensland. His dad, David, played Australian rules football. Darren started playing Aussie rules at age four. He was very good, even winning an award in his second season.

When his family moved to a small town called Wandoan, it was hard to keep playing Australian rules. There were no clubs nearby. So, Darren started playing rugby league instead. He played for his school and local club in Wandoan for four years. Then, he moved to Roma and played for the Cities Gladiators. He played his first senior game at just 15 years old.

In 1990, a rugby league scout named Glenn Bayliss noticed Darren. Another scout, Cyril Connell, then watched him closely. In 1994, Darren impressed coach Wayne Bennett at a junior carnival. He then moved to Brisbane and got a $2000 scholarship with the Broncos. He also worked as a bartender. Later that year, he signed a $10,000 playing contract with the Broncos.

Playing Career: From Fullback to Five-Eighth

Darren Lockyer made his first professional game for the Brisbane Broncos in 1995. He was only 18 years old. He played in 11 games that year and was named the Broncos' rookie of the year. He played in different positions, including centre, five-eighth, and off the bench.

Playing as a Fullback

Becoming a Star Fullback

In 1997, coach Wayne Bennett made Lockyer the permanent fullback (fullback). Lockyer also became the main goal-kicker. He quickly became a top player. He helped the Broncos win the 1997 World Club Challenge and the 1997 Super League Grand Final. At the end of 1997, he played for Australia against Great Britain.

In 1998, Lockyer played fullback for Queensland in the 1998 State of Origin series. He was the top point-scorer. He also played for the Australian team. He set a new club record for most points in a season with 272 points. The Broncos won their fourth premiership in the 1998 Grand Final. Lockyer was named Dally M Fullback Of The Year for his amazing season.

In 2000, Lockyer won the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player in the 2000 NRL Grand Final. The Broncos won 14–6. He also played in the 2000 World Cup, which Australia won. People started calling him the best fullback in the world. He also received the Australian Sports Medal.

Captaining Queensland and Australia

In 2001, Lockyer became captain of the Queensland team for the 2001 State of Origin series. He was named man-of-the-match in the final game, helping Queensland win. He also won the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland's best player of the series. At the end of 2001, he toured Great Britain with the Australian team. He was named Dally M Fullback Of The Year and Dally M Representative Player Of The Year.

In 2002, Lockyer continued to play a key role as Queensland's fullback. He helped them draw the 2002 State of Origin series. He won his third Dally M Fullback Of The Year award. In 2003, Lockyer became the captain of the Australian national team. He led Australia to victory against Great Britain. He also won his first Rugby League World Golden Boot Award for the world's best international player.

Switching to Five-Eighth

A New Position, More Success

In 2004, coach Wayne Bennett moved Lockyer to the five-eighth (five-eighth) position. This allowed him to have the ball more often. Even though it was a new role, Lockyer quickly became successful. He was picked as five-eighth for Queensland and Australia, remaining captain of both teams. He won the Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year award and the RLIF Back Of The Year award.

In 2005, Lockyer became the Broncos' captain. He continued to captain Australia and Queensland. In 2006, after some early criticism, Lockyer's performance as five-eighth greatly improved. He led Queensland to their first series victory since 2001. In the deciding game, he intercepted a pass and scored the winning try. He won the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series.

Darren Lockyer playing for the Broncos in 2004, his first year at five-eighth.

Lockyer then led the Broncos to win the 2006 NRL Grand Final. He set up two tries and kicked a winning field goal. This was his fourth premiership and his first as captain. He also captained Australia to win the 2006 Rugby League Tri-nations. He scored the winning try in the final. For the second time, he won the Rugby League World Golden Boot Award. 2006 was one of his best seasons ever.

Injuries and Continued Leadership

Darren Lockyer having his portrait painted in 2007.

In 2007, Lockyer injured his ankle but recovered to play in the 2007 State of Origin series. He captained Queensland to win their second straight Origin title. Later that year, he suffered a serious knee injury (ruptured ACL), which ended his season. Despite this, he still won Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year for the third time.

Darren Lockyer playing against the Canberra Raiders in 2008

Darren Lockyer in 2008

His knee injury in 2008 was worse than first thought. He missed many games and the entire Origin series. However, he returned to help the Broncos. He was also selected as Australian captain for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

In 2009, Lockyer played his 300th first-grade game. He returned to captain Queensland, leading them to a record fourth straight series win. He also broke records for most games played for Australia and most games as Australian captain during the 2009 Four Nations tournament.

Final Years and Retirement

In 2010, Lockyer continued to captain Queensland to their record-breaking fifth straight series win. He was named Man of the Match in Game II. He also broke the record for most games played at a single club with 329 games for the Broncos. Later that year, he broke the Australian national team's all-time try-scoring record.

In March 2011, Lockyer announced that the 2011 season would be his last. He played his final ANZAC Test match as captain, leading Australia to victory. He ended his amazing Origin career with a sixth straight series win for Queensland. On 12 August, he officially broke the record for most NRL games played, reaching 350 games.

In his final finals game, Lockyer suffered a fractured cheekbone. Despite the injury, he played on and kicked a field goal to win the game for the Broncos. However, he could not play in the Preliminary Final, which ended his legendary career. He was named the Broncos' player of the year for 2011. He ended his career by captaining the Australian national team to victory in the 2011 Four Nations final.

Honours and Career Highlights

Darren Lockyer is one of the most celebrated players in rugby league history. In 2008, he was named in a list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players. He was the only active player on the list. He was also chosen as fullback in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century.

In 2011, part of the Warrego Highway was renamed Darren Lockyer Way in his honour. A life-size bronze statue of him stands outside Lang Park in Brisbane. In 2018, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Brisbane Broncos

• 3x Dally M. Medal Fullback of the Year: 1998, 2001, 2002
• 3x Dally M. Medal Five-Eighth of the Year: 2004, 2006, 2007
• 2x Dally M. Medal Representative Player of the Year: 2001, 2006
• Clive Churchill Medal Winner 2000
• First Game: Round 13, 1995 (Broncos won 60–14)
• Club Rookie of the Year 1995
• Won the 1997 Super League World Club Challenge
• Won 4 Premierships with the Broncos (1997, 1998, 2000, 2006)
• Most points in one season: 272 in 1998
• Club Player of the Year 2002, 2003 and 2011
• Captain from 2005–2011
• Highest Ever Brisbane Point-Scorer with 1,220 Club Points
• Club Best Back Award 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
• Highest capped Broncos player – 355 games
• Most games at a single club – 355 games

Queensland Maroons

• Played in a record 36 State of Origin Games
• Man of the Match 3 times (2001, 2006, 2010)
• Captained in 22 State of Origin Games (second only to Wally Lewis)
• Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series, 2006
• Part of 7 Series Winning Sides (1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011)
• Captain of 6 Series Winning Sides (2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011)

Australian Kangaroos

Darren Lockyer with his wife Loren.

• 59 Test matches for Australia
• Australian Kangaroos Captain 2003–2011
• Record 38 test matches as captain
• Highest Kangaroos try-Scorer with 35 tries
• 9 World Cup Matches for Australia
• Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2003 (as fullback)
• Golden Boot Award for International Player of the Year 2006 (as five-eighth)

Life After Playing Rugby League

After retiring from rugby league, Darren Lockyer became a father to three sons: Flynn Martin (born 2012) and Hugo David (born 2013).

In 2012, Lockyer joined the Nine Network's rugby league commentary team. He works as a sideline commentator. He chose not to have surgery for a chipped bone in his throat, which gives him a husky voice. He decided to see a speech therapist to help with his voice for TV.

Lockyer also became a safety ambassador for Origin Energy's Australia Pacific project. He now works as Head of Business Affairs at Mayur Resources, a company focused on energy and minerals.

See also

• List of international rugby league caps for Darren Lockyer
• List of players who have played 300 NRL games