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Parramatta 24 Brisbane 34
AFTER watching Darren Lockyer foil both his state and NRL team in the space of 72 hours, Parramatta's Origin forward Nathan Hindmarsh made it clear what he thinks of the champion five-eighth.
"To tell you truth I'm getting sick of the sight of him - we need someone to hurt him!" Hindmarsh said.
Lockyer was all class in orchestrating a late win for Brisbane over the Eels at Parramatta Stadium last night, playing a major role in five of his team's six tries.
The Maroons pivot set up tries with deft passing, spiralling bombs and neat grubber kicks as the Broncos held off a persistent but ultimately outclassed Parramatta outfit.
It was Lockyer's cool head when the Eels twice fought back from a 12-point deficit to level at 12-all and 24-all that highlighted his growing maturity as a leader.
On both occasions Lockyer put Brisbane back in front by setting up tries for Michael De Vere in the first half and comeback veteran Darren Smith with a towering bomb that was spilled in a collision between Eels team-mates Luke Burt and Wade McKinnon near fulltime.
"We thought we did have them at 24-all, but we let Lockyer kick too many times and he came up with the goods," Hindmarsh said.
"He was the difference. A lot of their tries came from his kicks and his passing - I don't think we controlled him well enough. You've got to knock him down when he passes it, otherwise he just gets up and creates another hole for someone else to run into."
Eels coach Brian Smith was full of praise for the Broncos skipper, who is still to re-sign with the club.
"Darren Lockyer was just superb," Smith said. "He's not only a dynamic player as we've seen over the years, but the way he paces himself and orchestrates their attack is quite incredible.
"He has always been a fine player but he's showing a maturity that gives him another dimension."
Parramatta came into the match rejuvenated after surprise wins over Newcastle and Manly and lost no friends with their performance.
Brisbane skipped to an early 12-0 lead and looked in for an easy night, but the Eels showed they are going to give cheek in the second half of the premiership with a spirited fightback.
It was not until winger Craig Frawley scored with three minutes remaining that the Broncos had safely shaken off their opponents.
A concern for Parramatta is the health of halfback Adam Dykes, who was taken from the field on a stretcher early in the second half with what could be broken ribs.
Dykes was taken to Westmead Hospital for X-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
A positive talking point after the game was the return to the NRL of 35-year-old Smith.
The former international was training with the Easts Tigers team in Brisbane earlier this week, before being pitched into the Broncos' starting team at lock to cover for injuries.
Smith has not played NRL since his final season with the Bulldogs in 2002, yet he did not look out of place in picking up two tries.
"It's a welcome return, that's for sure," Smith said. "At this stage I think I'm only on a short-term contract ... maybe till next week."
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said Smith would play against Canberra next week before returning to park football.
Despite twice being run down by the Eels, Bennett said he never felt the result was in doubt.
"I wasn't frightened," he said. "We were in control of the game but we just made it hard for ourselves, that's all.
"We let them back into it and it's been happening for a while."
The Broncos lost halfback Casey McGuire midway through the first half after he was felled at the end of a long run after a sickening collision with Parramatta fullback Wade McKinnon. McGuire rejected the use of a medicab, but was clearly groggy as he left the field.
Young fullback Karmichael Hunt also had a terrific game for the Broncos, scoring a first-half try after a sublime flick pass from Lockyer. The teenager is getting better with every performance.
BRISBANE 34 (D Smith 2, K Hunt, M De Vere, C McGuire, C Frawley tries; De Vere 5 goals) PARRAMATTA 24 (W McKinnon, D Widders, A Graham, L Burt tries; Burt 4 goals). Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 10,147.
The Sunday Telegraph
AFTER watching Darren Lockyer foil both his state and NRL team in the space of 72 hours, Parramatta's Origin forward Nathan Hindmarsh made it clear what he thinks of the champion five-eighth.
"To tell you truth I'm getting sick of the sight of him - we need someone to hurt him!" Hindmarsh said.
Lockyer was all class in orchestrating a late win for Brisbane over the Eels at Parramatta Stadium last night, playing a major role in five of his team's six tries.
The Maroons pivot set up tries with deft passing, spiralling bombs and neat grubber kicks as the Broncos held off a persistent but ultimately outclassed Parramatta outfit.
It was Lockyer's cool head when the Eels twice fought back from a 12-point deficit to level at 12-all and 24-all that highlighted his growing maturity as a leader.
On both occasions Lockyer put Brisbane back in front by setting up tries for Michael De Vere in the first half and comeback veteran Darren Smith with a towering bomb that was spilled in a collision between Eels team-mates Luke Burt and Wade McKinnon near fulltime.
"We thought we did have them at 24-all, but we let Lockyer kick too many times and he came up with the goods," Hindmarsh said.
"He was the difference. A lot of their tries came from his kicks and his passing - I don't think we controlled him well enough. You've got to knock him down when he passes it, otherwise he just gets up and creates another hole for someone else to run into."
Eels coach Brian Smith was full of praise for the Broncos skipper, who is still to re-sign with the club.
"Darren Lockyer was just superb," Smith said. "He's not only a dynamic player as we've seen over the years, but the way he paces himself and orchestrates their attack is quite incredible.
"He has always been a fine player but he's showing a maturity that gives him another dimension."
Parramatta came into the match rejuvenated after surprise wins over Newcastle and Manly and lost no friends with their performance.
Brisbane skipped to an early 12-0 lead and looked in for an easy night, but the Eels showed they are going to give cheek in the second half of the premiership with a spirited fightback.
It was not until winger Craig Frawley scored with three minutes remaining that the Broncos had safely shaken off their opponents.
A concern for Parramatta is the health of halfback Adam Dykes, who was taken from the field on a stretcher early in the second half with what could be broken ribs.
Dykes was taken to Westmead Hospital for X-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
A positive talking point after the game was the return to the NRL of 35-year-old Smith.
The former international was training with the Easts Tigers team in Brisbane earlier this week, before being pitched into the Broncos' starting team at lock to cover for injuries.
Smith has not played NRL since his final season with the Bulldogs in 2002, yet he did not look out of place in picking up two tries.
"It's a welcome return, that's for sure," Smith said. "At this stage I think I'm only on a short-term contract ... maybe till next week."
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said Smith would play against Canberra next week before returning to park football.
Despite twice being run down by the Eels, Bennett said he never felt the result was in doubt.
"I wasn't frightened," he said. "We were in control of the game but we just made it hard for ourselves, that's all.
"We let them back into it and it's been happening for a while."
The Broncos lost halfback Casey McGuire midway through the first half after he was felled at the end of a long run after a sickening collision with Parramatta fullback Wade McKinnon. McGuire rejected the use of a medicab, but was clearly groggy as he left the field.
Young fullback Karmichael Hunt also had a terrific game for the Broncos, scoring a first-half try after a sublime flick pass from Lockyer. The teenager is getting better with every performance.
BRISBANE 34 (D Smith 2, K Hunt, M De Vere, C McGuire, C Frawley tries; De Vere 5 goals) PARRAMATTA 24 (W McKinnon, D Widders, A Graham, L Burt tries; Burt 4 goals). Referee: J Robinson. Crowd: 10,147.
The Sunday Telegraph
