Darren Lockyer

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Thursday, 24th March, 1977
Current Age
47 years and 5 days
Place Of Birth
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Fullback Of The Year
1998, 2001, 2002
Clive Churchill Medal
2000
Dally M Representative Player Of The Year
2001, 2006
Ron McAuliffe Medal
2001, 2003, 2006
Golden Boot Award
2003, 2006
Dally M Five-Eighth Of The Year
2004, 2006, 2007
Provan Summons Medal
2004
RLIF Back Of The Year
2004, 2006
Wally Lewis Medal
2006
Harry Sunderland Medal
2008
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2008
RLIF Golden Cap
2018

Biography

Roma fullback, recruited to the broncos by former Queensland Test half Cyril Connell, made his first grade debut with the club as an eighteen year-old five-eighth in 1995. Lockyer quickly showed his versatility in the centres and at fullback, proving a creative attacking player, a safe defender under the high ball and an exceptional goal-kicker. In 1997 he represented Queensland and Australia in the Super League season before proving himself all over again at rep level in the reunified 1998 NRL season. Selected in Australia’s ANZac Test team as a reserve back Lockyer overcame a poor debut to kick Queensland to a narrow 24-23 win in the opening State of Origin match. That year, he landed five goals in Brisbane’s 38-12 grand final win, scored a club record 272pts (his 19t and 98g surpassed Julian O’Neill’s record by almost 80pts) and made two more Test appearances against NZ. A try-scorer and the preferred goal-kicker in both end-of-season Test victories Lockyer retained his place in Australia’s ANZac Test team in early 1999. Although Brisbane struggled for much of that year Lockyer returned from injury to score a try and a goal in the 10-all draw in the third State of Origin match. In the Tri-series at the end of the season, an injured Darren Lockyer came off the bench in the 24-22 loss to NZ before regaining the fullback spot in Test wins against Great Britain and NZ in the final. 2000, however, saw Lockyer attain premier status among the code’s elite players. Despite three straight losses to NSW in the State of Origin series Lockyer won a premiership with the Broncos, made Test appearances against NZ and Papua New Guinea and played in Australia’s World Cup final win. In 2001 he took on the dual role as a second five-eighth in attack and fullback in defence, most notably in Queensland’s 40-14 thrashing of NSW in the deciding State of Origin match, and finished the season as captain of the Maroons and the Broncos following the injury to Gorden Tallis. The season ended with tries in Australia’s vital second and third Test victories, and with Lockyer’s reputation as the best fullback in the world secure, Tests against Great Britain and NZ followed in 2002. The following year Lockyer took over from an injured Andrew Johns as Australian Test captain on the 2003 Kangaroo Tour and produced three, blistering displays as Australia won a famous Ashes series whitewash in the dying minutes of each match. His inspirational performances that year earned him the Adidas ‘Golden Boot’ Award as International Player of the Year. In a bold move Lockyer shifted to five-eighth with the Broncos in 2004 and continued to lead Australia and Queensland from that position. Injury saw him miss the opening State of Origin match and a large part of the Broncos’ run into the semi-finals but he returned to lead Australia to an authoritative 44-4 win in the Tri Nations final (despite missing two Tests in the series). In 2005 Lockyer stretched his Test tally to 29 (13 as captain) but missed Australia’s shock 24-0 loss to NZ in the final of the Tri-Nations competition through injury. The following year, emulating the deeds of former Broncos’ legend Allan Langer Lockyer led the Maroons back from the wilderness to win their first State of origin series since 2001; captained Brisbane in their first grand final win since 2000 and inspired Australia to a thrilling victory in the final of the Tri-Nations competition by scoring the ‘golden’ try in extra-time. He capped an amazing year with his naming as the ‘Golden Boot’ Award winner for a second time in his career.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 355 122 341   21 1191 237 111 7 66.76% List
NRL Finals 35 13 46   3 147 18 17 0 51.43% List
Test Series 9 4 2   1 5 7 2 0 77.78% List
Anzac Tests 10 5 -   1 21 9 1 0 90.00% List
State of Origin 36 9 22   2 82 19 15 2 52.78% List
Tri-Nations 14 9 12   1 61 10 3 1 71.43% List
Tour Matches Australia 7 5 -   - 20 7 0 0 100.00% List
World Cup 9 5 4   - 28 8 1 0 88.89% List
World Club Challenge 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
The Ashes 6 4 -   - 32 5 1 0 83.33% List
Four Nations 10 3 0   - 12 8 1 1 80.00% List
All Stars 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia (SL) 1997 4 2 2   1 13 2 2 0 50.00% List
Australia 1998-11 59 35 27   2 196 49 8 2 83.05% List
Overall1997-2011 63 37 29   3 209 51 10 2 80.95% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1998-2004 2 1 9   - 22 2 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1998-2008 9 5 4   - 28 8 1 0 88.89% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD (SL) 1997 2 - 1   - 2 1 1 0 50.00% List
QLD 1998-07, 2009-11 36 9 22   2 82 19 15 2 52.78% List
NRL 2010-11 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Overall1997-2011 40 9 23   2 84 21 17 2 52.50% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Brisbane ARL 1995 11 3 4 / 6 66.67% 1 21 8 3 0 72.73% List
Brisbane ARL 1996 20 7 13 / 21 61.90% - 54 14 6 0 70.00% List
Brisbane Super League 1997 20 7 70 / 109 64.22% - 168 16 3 1 80.00% List
Brisbane NRL 1998 26 19 98 / 144 68.06% - 272 20 6 0 76.92% List
Brisbane NRL 1999 22 6 17 / 22 77.27% 2 60 12 8 2 54.55% List
Brisbane NRL 2000 25 11 5 / 6 83.33% - 54 21 2 2 84.00% List
Brisbane NRL 2001 27 7 16 / 23 69.57% 2 62 14 12 1 51.85% List
Brisbane NRL 2002 24 15 1 / 1 100.00% - 62 15 8 1 62.50% List
Brisbane NRL 2003 20 9 2 / 3 66.67% 1 41 12 8 0 60.00% List
Brisbane NRL 2004 19 2 21 / 29 72.41% 1 51 12 7 0 63.16% List
Brisbane NRL 2005 21 8 52 / 84 61.90% 1 137 13 8 0 61.90% List
Brisbane NRL 2006 26 13 19 / 24 79.17% 5 95 16 10 0 61.54% List
Brisbane NRL 2007 14 2 23 / 33 69.70% 3 57 8 6 0 57.14% List
Brisbane NRL 2008 17 2 -   1 9 12 5 0 70.59% List
Brisbane NRL 2009 23 4 0 / 1 0.00% - 16 16 7 0 69.57% List
Brisbane NRL 2010 18 4 -   - 16 10 8 0 55.56% List
Brisbane NRL 2011 22 3 -   4 16 18 4 0 81.82% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Brisbane 1995-11 355 122 341 / 506 67.39% 21 1191 237 111 7 66.76% List

Your Say

  • Jason Ganter
    28/04/2009

    Correct me if I am wrong, the first player in history to win the Golden Boot award in two different positions. Champion.

  • stauto
    17/08/2011

    think he only won it at 5/8 maybe wrong but i think you'l find andrew johns brad fittler and others won it while he was at fullback

  • Badapple
    22/08/2011

    Andrew Johns collected the award in 1999 and again in 2001, becoming the first player to win it twice. Darren Lockyer has since repeated that feat, winning in 2003 and 2006 becoming the only player to win twice while playing in different positions.

  • scott thomo
    27/02/2012

    darren lockyer is the best ever rugby league player we have never seen anyone better

  • Anonymous
    15/04/2012

    just heard ray warren say joey is the prince under wally the king obviously they have not read lockie's career stats

  • Jamie Waller
    03/08/2012

    Best player I have seen in 40yrs. If only he was a blue.

  • Wazza
    26/04/2014

    Lockyer moved to 5/8 in 2004, so he did win the golden boot in 2 different positions

  • Lachie
    15/10/2014

    Simply outstanding. A terrific player and a great privilege to watch him.

  • Peter
    25/05/2015

    I followed the Great Darren Lockyer from his debut to retirement. I am a big fan from PNG and have always loved watching him play. He surely is the greatest footballer of the modern era and no doubt, no one will ever break the records he set for a very long time. GO LOCKY

  • Anonymous
    09/06/2015

    Darren lockyer was an inspiration to watch

  • Anonymous
    04/10/2015

    Darren lockyer was able to play different positions during his career unlike Andrew johns . Darren was the player who played as a member of a team and not for self glory. I believe he should be a immortal and not Andrew johns .

  • Mitch shephard
    23/04/2016

    Absolute legend! Best Queensland player of all time. His cool calm and collected brilliance will never be matched! Champion player

  • Luke Nagan
    21/06/2016

    Darren lockyer deserve to be called Prince of rugby after king Lewis.

  • Matt Lowe
    01/10/2017

    Darren Lockyer was a more complete player than Andrew Johns. Again nsw cannot handle the fact that qld has produced the games greatest ever players. Lockyer will be an immortal with Thurston smith and slater to come. Lockyer is at the top of the tree. True champion on and off the field.

  • Stavros
    06/06/2018

    The NSW journalists who dominated the voting made sure Andrew Johns was made an Immortal ahead of Mal Meninga. Lockyer should have been next after him. A great travesty.

  • matthew
    29/08/2018

    he is one of the best and possibly the best

  • yal khador
    13/01/2020

    Darren Lockyer is the best of all time. I watch his game highlights every day.

  • Anonymous
    26/04/2020

    Locky never had a losing season in first grade

  • Anonymous
    21/05/2020

    Lockyer is a legend! He should be an immortal and not Andrew Johns. LOCKYER IS A COMPLETE RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER!

  • Aaron J. McKechnie
    21/05/2020

    What Matt Lowe said. Pretty much. A complete joy to watch play the great game.

  • John
    13/07/2020

    Great player but anyone who thinks Lockyer is better than Johns needs to get their head tested

  • unexpectedlander
    15/08/2020

    When Lockyer was at his best on game day, he was better than any other player. IMO a players true greatness is attested by how his opposition treat him. When Lockyer played, he was respected by his opposition so much because of his agile football brain. His contemporaries would attest that he was the benchmark to which they would measure their own ability. So established was the notion of his exceptional ability that he was never relegated from the positions he was selected for in rep footy. He was always an automatic selection for Queensland and Australia. He could read a situation and instantly come up with a creative play to put his team on the front foot. When the Bronx were on the front foot, Locky was a master of keeping them there. He could pull his team s fat out of the fire so consistently when the games were close. Stats alone wont be able to show his level headed brilliance. I could go on reminiscing about this legend. Simply the GOAT for mine.

  • Anonymous
    19/05/2023

    Darren Lockyer is superior to Andrew Johns in every way. Allan Langer is also; however, they love their boy Johns and made him an immortal.... Look at the stats, there is no contest.

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, Terry Liberopoulos, Cymru RL

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2001, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2002, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2003, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2004, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, NRL 2004 Official Rugby League Annual, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual