Fans will turn out in force at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium to pay homage to Darren Lockyer – the Aussie legend who will hang up his boots at the end of the Four Nations tournament.
Lockyer (right) leads out the Kangaroos against New Zealand for a mouth-watering opening clash to the tournament tonight.
The great Alex Murphy has paid his own tribute to the silky-skilled Brisbane ace and hopes more players will follow Lockyer’s lead in putting skill, pace and natural instinct ahead of brute force.
“Lockyer plays the game how it should be played,” said Murphy. “He’s a player who entertains, he does the unexpected and throughout his career he has known the fans want to be entertained.
“I’ve total admiration for him and so much can be learned by simply watching his refreshing style of play. He’s up there with the best but he just plays his natural game.
“I hate to say it, but many aspects of our game have now become robotic. I want to be entertained during the Four Nations tournament.
“Every team is playing the same way, there just isn’t any variation. We need more players expressing themselves on the field like Lockyer does.
“If you are supposed to be the best in your position, then surely you know what to do in the situations and circumstances that will face you. Players must play it as they see it.” Tweet
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A Rugby League legend, in fact a sporting legend. If any child wants a role model, they could do no worse than use this man as an example.
You would hope that Australia would be weak once he goes, but that wont happen, another star will be just around the corner.
One of Rugby Leagues great arenas ?
I don't think it was on Darren Lockyer's bucket list to play at a stadium on a Tesco's car park.
Good old Alex, even when he's supposed to be celebrating a legends achievements he's still up for a dig at modern RL. Just can't resist it! I suppose thats how you tell how much someone loves " The Greatest Game" they simply end up grumpy about all the things that are not the same as yesteryear. Locky is one of those players who would stand out in any era ( not unlike Murph) he even stands out in the NRL at a time when he's going to hang up his boots!!! He's one of the reasons for the Oz dominance lasting so long because he steps out of the merely good by creating time and space for himself and others, manages to change the structure, flow and tide of a game and makes decisions that put whatever team he's playing for in a position stength where the opposition is at it's weakest. He will be greatly missed on the field.