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KEVIN LOCKE could be forgiven for hoping this year never ends. But even though 2012 is just around the corner, the Warriors young gun is focused on the task of building on his breakthrough season.
A grand final, a Test cap, and comparisons with the best fullback in the game have been all in a year's work for Locke, who this time last year was not even the best fullback at his club.
But former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary's decision to throw Locke into the No.1 position, with Lance Hohaia absent, gave the youngster his chance. And by the end of the season Locke had become one of the stars of the game. Not quite overnight, but his rise has been remarkable nonetheless, crowned by his first cap in October.
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''I was very surprised, very emotional,'' Locke said of his Kiwis call-up. ''The hard work that I put in during the season, to make that Kiwi side, it was the biggest thing in my life, in my career, especially having my family there.''
He says of his move to fullback: ''I didn't expect to go more than one game. I just expected it to be a one-off. I guess I performed, got an opportunity to play again the week after, and went on from there.''
Prior to that, Locke had been on the wing. It was a position he admits he found ''boring''. He had always felt he was destined for a move closer to the ruck, but incredibly was training in the hope of forcing his way into hooker.
''Wing's quite boring,'' Locke said. ''I knew I had more to offer, than being out on the wing. I actually thought about moving closer to the ruck, maybe playing hooker. I thought I might have to bulk up a little bit more for that.
''I like running out of dummy half as a fullback. I just feel like a hooker - I like playing a bit with the ball.''
Now he's content at the back. ''I think I'm happy with fullback,'' Locke said. ''You have to make a fair few tackles at hooker. At fullback, I'm only making three or four tackles a game. I'd rather do three than 30.''
Having made his debut in 2009, Locke won't have to contemplate the second-year syndrome that Shaun Johnson, his equally exciting teammate, will face in 2012.
But having exploded in a similar manner to the young halfback, Locke is still wary of ensuring he does not slip back in 2012.
With that in mind, he made sure he attended training, even though he was not required, when Andrew Johns made an appearance, earlier this month. He admitted to being somewhat ''star-struck''.
Locke was an instrumental part of the Warriors' surprise appearance in the grand final. The side eventually succumbed to Manly but Locke still finished the season with an enhanced reputation. With that came lofty comparisons; Locke has been compared to Australian No.1 Billy Slater.
He is flattered but maintained he wanted to forge his own identity.
''I'm not him, I'm Kevin Locke,'' Locke said. ''I do what I do. People out there, they think we've got the same style of play. I've got a lot of respect for Billy Slater. He's my idol.''
The steepness of his rise would suggest that success has come easy for Locke. Yet that would belie the complicated family history. Locke dedicates much of his success to his sister, Christina, and step-parents Frank and Danielle Harold. He has spoken of a somewhat strained relationship with his mother, while his father, Kevin Snr, died of motor neurone disease in 2008. Locke will face a test next year, with Christina moving to Perth.
It was his sister who has helped him when he has diverted from the path. But Locke knows what he needs to do.
''It's maturity, discipline, and how hard you work,'' Locke said. ''When I got the opportunity to play fullback, I worked hard and didn't want to let the opportunity slip.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...hem-in-2012-20111225-1p9gi.html#ixzz1hfnkV9Eh
A grand final, a Test cap, and comparisons with the best fullback in the game have been all in a year's work for Locke, who this time last year was not even the best fullback at his club.
But former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary's decision to throw Locke into the No.1 position, with Lance Hohaia absent, gave the youngster his chance. And by the end of the season Locke had become one of the stars of the game. Not quite overnight, but his rise has been remarkable nonetheless, crowned by his first cap in October.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''I was very surprised, very emotional,'' Locke said of his Kiwis call-up. ''The hard work that I put in during the season, to make that Kiwi side, it was the biggest thing in my life, in my career, especially having my family there.''
He says of his move to fullback: ''I didn't expect to go more than one game. I just expected it to be a one-off. I guess I performed, got an opportunity to play again the week after, and went on from there.''
Prior to that, Locke had been on the wing. It was a position he admits he found ''boring''. He had always felt he was destined for a move closer to the ruck, but incredibly was training in the hope of forcing his way into hooker.
''Wing's quite boring,'' Locke said. ''I knew I had more to offer, than being out on the wing. I actually thought about moving closer to the ruck, maybe playing hooker. I thought I might have to bulk up a little bit more for that.
''I like running out of dummy half as a fullback. I just feel like a hooker - I like playing a bit with the ball.''
Now he's content at the back. ''I think I'm happy with fullback,'' Locke said. ''You have to make a fair few tackles at hooker. At fullback, I'm only making three or four tackles a game. I'd rather do three than 30.''
Having made his debut in 2009, Locke won't have to contemplate the second-year syndrome that Shaun Johnson, his equally exciting teammate, will face in 2012.
But having exploded in a similar manner to the young halfback, Locke is still wary of ensuring he does not slip back in 2012.
With that in mind, he made sure he attended training, even though he was not required, when Andrew Johns made an appearance, earlier this month. He admitted to being somewhat ''star-struck''.
Locke was an instrumental part of the Warriors' surprise appearance in the grand final. The side eventually succumbed to Manly but Locke still finished the season with an enhanced reputation. With that came lofty comparisons; Locke has been compared to Australian No.1 Billy Slater.
He is flattered but maintained he wanted to forge his own identity.
''I'm not him, I'm Kevin Locke,'' Locke said. ''I do what I do. People out there, they think we've got the same style of play. I've got a lot of respect for Billy Slater. He's my idol.''
The steepness of his rise would suggest that success has come easy for Locke. Yet that would belie the complicated family history. Locke dedicates much of his success to his sister, Christina, and step-parents Frank and Danielle Harold. He has spoken of a somewhat strained relationship with his mother, while his father, Kevin Snr, died of motor neurone disease in 2008. Locke will face a test next year, with Christina moving to Perth.
It was his sister who has helped him when he has diverted from the path. But Locke knows what he needs to do.
''It's maturity, discipline, and how hard you work,'' Locke said. ''When I got the opportunity to play fullback, I worked hard and didn't want to let the opportunity slip.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...hem-in-2012-20111225-1p9gi.html#ixzz1hfnkV9Eh
Well put. Ivan definitely went to the guys he trusted. I don't know -- I think it's because I always trusted that Lockey would eventually get the spot when he was ready, that it didn't bother me the way it did others -- I understood what I perceived as Ivan's 'rationale.' When it came to Krisnan, I didn't. Even though it was clearly obvious that it had to be an off-field thing that kept him out. Anyway. I'm happy with how it panned out -- I just remember Ivan and Lance copping so much from punters who are barely capable of bending over to tie up their shoe laces, compared to the elite NRL comp they not only participated in, but succeeded in. 
