Did Lockyer sort of announce his retirement?

[Simo]

I know the fight threads are more exciting but did anyone else notice that in Lockyers speech his words were 'its been great playing for you', maybe it was just a choice of words but it almost sounded like he was moving to past tenths, I actually thought he was about to announce it right there.

I was in a pub so a bit distracted but how did it sound at home, am I reading something into nothing or was there something there?

 

[Charlie124]

He spoke to Wally in an interview on the field and Wally asked the retirement question, he said he was going to make his decision at the beginning of next year.

I think if we had won he would have announced it last night.

 

[tiger_nick]

if he, he should have. was a deadset passenger this series. id guess that half of nsw tried were scored cause of him.

scott prince to 7 thurston to 6 is a much better line up imo

 

[Hanscholo]

If anyone ever needed a tap on the shoulder its Darren Lockyer. His 300th game in fact was probably the point at which it should have sunk in, a game in which every pass he threw hit the deck, everry run he had was weak and his impact was negative on the side. Again, last night the guy was way out of his league, getting run over the top of at will by NSW forwards and Trent Barrett coasting past him for a try.

Your well past it Darren and its time to go.

Also on his speach. Thanks for thanking NSW you bad loser. What, because White got a lucky punch on price? yea, nice work mate...nfi.

 

[ME SO HORNBY!]

Thats the feeling i got. I think we have seen a great champion play for QLD for the last time.

 

[spartan]

Darren Lockyer has been my favourite player for many a year now and i'm a huge admirer of him but have to admit that the footwork ain't quite there anymore,i'm sure he knows it as well. But look at what the guy has achieved in his career and the amount of top level matches he's been involved in,not forgetting the injury he sustained a few years ago.
A remarkable player.

 

[Charlie124]

If anyone ever needed a tap on the shoulder its Darren Lockyer. His 300th game in fact was probably the point at which it should have sunk in, a game in which every pass he threw hit the deck, everry run he had was weak and his impact was negative on the side. Again, last night the guy was way out of his league, getting run over the top of at will by NSW forwards and Trent Barrett coasting past him for a try.

Your well past it Darren and its time to go.

Also on his speach. Thanks for thanking NSW you bad loser. What, because White got a lucky punch on price? yea, nice work mate...nfi.

I must have missed NSW Captain lol Kurt Gidley make his speech

 

[aqua_duck]

I could barely understand a word he said

 

[robbocx]

I feel that Darren Lockyer has, in the past, been a good public face for rugby league in Queensland.

Lately his halo has been slipping with the Casablanca Bar ‘tackle’ the pub incident with Andrew Symonds, and now ‘sour grapes’ by forgetting to acknowledge NSW for the game and series they had just played.

It may be time for him to quietly fade away.

It was a poor show from the ARL by not asking the NSW captain to speak.

 

[the kirwan kid]

I think he'll retire ... he's played nearly 400 top grade games and has had a lot of niggles over past 3 years. He can just play a steady role at Broncos and have some fun. Prince at 7 and Thurston at 6 will be the combination ... with Cronk to take over when Prince calls it a day.

 

[beave]

I think he should step aside with some dignity.

Let Prince and Thurston or Cronk with Thurston at 6 (whatever combo picked) move up and be the new guard. He has had his time in sun in regards to Origin duties, he isn't playing well enough now to really be in the side, but his reputation will get him the gig regardless. Creaghs first try was straight through his poor defence/defensive decision, and looked silly a few times in defence out on the field.

Time to move on Darren.........

 

[ME SO HORNBY!]

Does anybody else find it significant that Cronk was named 18th man for the third origin? IMO he was brought into camp to give him a taste of origin build up so he can be ready to replace lockyer next year. Plus Prince will be 30 by the time origin comes next year which means he will have a 2-3 years perhaps in which he will play origin. Cronk on the other hand is only 25 and with Thurston (aged 26) they could possibly build a combination for the next 6-7 years. Or maybe im just looking into it too much lol.

 

[Charlie124]

Does anybody else find it significant that Cronk was named 18th man for the third origin? IMO he was brought into camp to give him a taste of origin build up so he can be ready to replace lockyer next year. Plus Prince will be 30 by the time origin comes next year which means he will have a 2-3 years perhaps in which he will play origin. Cronk on the other hand is only 25 and with Thurston (aged 26) they could possibly build a combination for the next 6-7 years. Or maybe im just looking into it too much lol.

I mentioned this a month or two ago and i think its pretty likely that Cronk will be our long term replacement for Lockyer rather than Prince. Scott Prince reminds me of Stuart McGill - tallented enough and would walk into most opposition teams but cant crack it for his own team because theres a legend in front of him, and by the time that legend retires he's too old. Having said that i wouldnt mind seeing how the following combo would go for a couple of seasons, give Cronk a good crack at it without mounting a heap of preasure on him.

6. Thurston
7. Prince
14. Cronk (can cover the halves, hooker and a couple of other positions in the backline)

 

[the kirwan kid]

I mentioned this a month or two ago and i think its pretty likely that Cronk will be our long term replacement for Lockyer rather than Prince. Scott Prince reminds me of Stuart McGill - tallented enough and would walk into most opposition teams but cant crack it for his own team because theres a legend in front of him, and by the time that legend retires he's too old. Having said that i wouldnt mind seeing how the following combo would go for a couple of seasons, give Cronk a good crack at it without mounting a heap of preasure on him.

6. Thurston
7. Prince
14. Cronk (can cover the halves, hooker and a couple of other positions in the backline)

If Lockyer retires Mal has already said Scott Prince will be in his team. Cronk could be shot on the bench as a utlity with Hunt gone.

 

[Charlie124]

Id be happy enough with that, i like Scott Prince and he & Thurston have proven to be a good combo, the only thing counting against him is age. If we get 2 good seasons out of him before Cronk comes in full time then thats fantastic.

 

[andirect]

i loved the fact that he didn't acknowledge the blues. whenever the opposition captain does that, it's never genuine. maybe the blues should win a series for once so they get some acknowledgment.

and lockyer has earnt the right to go out whenever he wants. while the team is winning series' and he's playing decent footy, he should keep playing. the players, his peers, love playing with him and will continue to if he decides to keep playing. people who post on this forum are the last people i'd want judging a player. most of you have no idea. it's funny that it's mainly nsw fans calling for his head. i wonder why? they're good at doing that to their own team.

 

[Broncodr01d]

Darren Lockyer was below his best this series. I think he was ok in game one, good in game two and he saved his worst for the decider (albeit he seems to have played partly injured).

There is nothing more for Darren Lockyer to prove. I think he will announce his retirement from rep footy and give us Brisbane fans one or two more seasons after this one. Lockyer is one of the best ever Origin captains from either state, he leaves the team in good shape.

Bring in Prince, give Thurston the captaincy and it's business as usual.

 

[Charlie124]

Darren Lockyer was below his best this series. I think he was ok in game one, good in game two and he saved his worst for the decider (albeit he seems to have played partly injured).

There is nothing more for Darren Lockyer to prove. I think he will announce his retirement from rep footy and give us Brisbane fans one or two more seasons after this one. Lockyer is one of the best ever Origin captains from either state, he leaves the team in good shape.

Bring in Prince, give Thurston the captaincy and it's business as usual.

Id rather Smith get the C next to his name to be honest, he's got more of a level head than Thurston who can sometimes let his emotions get the better of him.

 

[Broncodr01d]

Id rather Smith get the C next to his name to be honest, he's got more of a level head than Thurston who can sometimes let his emotions get the better of him.

My bad. Cameron Smith is most deserving.

A little hungover ;-)