Lockyer’s shutting door for good on his career

Given the iconic Brisbane Broncos and Queensland star will retire at the end of the tournament – and that is now certain – there would be no more fitting finale to his glittering career than leading the Kangaroos to glory at Elland Road on November 19.

If it means breaking the hearts of English supporters once more, so be it; there is a sense of inevitability that nothing will deny the legendary stand-off the send-off he merits.

Lockyer, 34, was at Leeds United’s ground yesterday for the launch of the 2011 Four Nations just as he had been two years previous when he said that would be the last time his vast talent would grace these shores.

He was as influential as ever in guiding Australia to a win over England in the 2009 final, extinguishing hopes of a rare home victory just as he has done so often ever since his first appearance here in 1997.

“My gut feel back then definitely was I wouldn’t be back,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“I pretty much had my mind made up at the start of the season in February as well that I wasn’t going to play rep’ football this year and was just going to put all my energy into the Broncos to try and enjoy that.

“But I guess the conversation with (Australia coach) Tim (Sheens) and one with (Queensland coach) Mal Meninga changed my thought process and I thought once I’d put my hand up to play rep’ footy that I’d do it the whole calendar.

“That’s why I’m here now and you know it’s always a good experience coming over.

“Every time I come there’s always new team members whose eyes light up just because they’re flying business class to England. They see things over here – like playing at Wembley – and it’s exciting to see what they go through.”

Considering the huge number of talented players desperate to take Lockyer’s role as his country’s chief playmaker, it is testament to his class that he remains so crucial to their plans.

Sheens yesterday admitted he hoped his record-breaking captain, who has already seen so many farewells this season with his last game for his beloved Brisbane, final Queensland State of Origin appearance and last Test match on Australian soil, would give back word and continue on in 2012.

Twice Golden Boot winner Lockyer says that will not happen though and this is it, the end of an era, while still mindful that there is no guarantee his fairytale scenario will materialise.

“Everyone’s goal is to be back here for the final in four weeks’ time,” said Lockyer, who saw his Australia side beaten by New Zealand in last year’s final at Brisbane.

“But it’s just one step at a time for us and we’ve an important game against the Kiwis on Friday.

“After this week’s game we’ll have a better gauge of how everyone’s looking but there’s some exciting youngsters for England and a few of them have NRL experience as well. Every time the Four Nations rolls around there’s new team members for every nation. England have got a few, we’ve got a few and so have New Zealand.”

Lockyer cruised through Australia’s recent 42-6 win over the Kiwis in Newcastle, a game which saw him break Ruben Wiki’s world record of 55 caps, but believes it will be a different New Zealand they face in the tournament opener at Warrington on Friday. Then it will be on to Wembley to play England on Saturday week, almost 14 years to the day since he appeared there as a rookie full-back for an Australia side which beat Great Britain 38-14.

“In one breath you can say that feels like 14 years ago but when you get to the end of your career it just feels like it went so quick,” he says. “I remember that trip pretty well. It was my first one and I was playing with guys like Laurie Daley, Steve Walters, Brett Mullins and Kenny Nagas.

“For me, as a kid, it was exciting playing at Wembley. I’d grown up watching Australia playing England in the Kangaroos tours and we had a win that day.

“I remember going back to the dressing rooms and sitting in the biggest hot tub I’d ever seen.

“My first trip to the UK saw me play at Wembley and in my last trip to the UK I’ll play at Wembley too. That’s going to be one of the many exciting parts of this trip.”

Rugby league will be a worse place once Lockyer, such a wonderful ambassador for the game, has hung up his boots but he refuses to dwell on his imminent retirement.

“I’ve achieved everything I wanted to achieve,” he said.

“Playing one match for the Broncos was my dream. Once that happened, I never set out to play 30 games for Queensland and 50 Tests. Having that in the bank does make it feel like you are more content.”

In Brisbane, an 85-km stretch of the Warrego Highway will be known as Darren Lockyer Way in light of his revered feats.

But it is that road leading back to Leeds that consumes all his thoughts now.