Aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why oh why does everything have to be a Johns v Lockyer thread?????????????????????
Has it occurred to ANYBODY that our forwards were as solid as a souffle, as dynamic as agranny blowing out the candles on her 100th birthday cake, and as damaging as Simon Crean speech in parliament?
Johns and Lokyer - potentially the best scrumbase parnership since Sterling and Kenny conquered the world in '82 - came together for the first time this week, both relishing the opportunity to play together. I though, in reality, behind a pack that would have been frightened by a kindergarten with too much red cordial, both did well. Notice how sharp Australia was when the Kiwis tired for the last 10m of the first half? Notice the speed in which both went about their work? Notice the speed in how Gasnier got the ball, so that even though it was 3 on 1, the 3 didn't have time to settle?
Darren Lockyer is a very good player. He is the victim of the Rugby league world's constanbt desire to make all-time-greats out of every generation of footballers. Lockyer has borne the brunt of his talents - at fullback he was too good to just be a fullback - he had, and thrived on - being a roving 5/8. That he was a link in a chain that included the likes of Langer, Waters, Renouf, Sailor and Tequiri is forgotten. Now, Lockyer at club level is given crap to work with -only Brent Tate and the sofa on his neck can approach the class of the former Broncos. yet Bennet and Queenslanders forget that. Lockyer is a superstar - the Courier Mail says so, and despite the poor bloke carrying his club, state and country - very admirably for 3 years, his talent doesn't earn his pedestal. The pedestal is crushing him. He should be what Anthony Minichiello is - the wonderfully gifted fullback who we expect no more from.
Everyone expects him to be a mixture of Wally Lewis (without the whinging), Clive Churchill and Johnny Raper. And captain to boot. Lockyer is a quiet bloke, who is uncomfortable in the press. In that regard, he is asked to fill the very capable boots of Brad Fittler as test captain - therefore the NRL/ARL's player spokesman. He does all this willingly, even though it all adds to the burden, and he is probably uncomfortable with it.
As a shy bloke with so much expetation,it's worth remembering that he is probably Australia's most exposed sportsman - playing on front of crowds between 10 000 -100 000 in every game, to an audience of over a million on TV. Wouldn't Ricky Ponting or the simpering boredom machine George Gregan love that!
Johns, on the other hand, IS the all time great, who can do almost anything behind the one thing all halfbacks need - dominant forwards. Injury has taken the limelight off Joey - he should be up around Wally's stats for tests and test captaincies. Lockyer has worn the burden - mainly because he is a Queenslander. and, to his credit, he has NEVER shirked his national duty.
Andrew Johns will be the next immortal. Why do Queenslanders feel the constant need to pit Lockyer against him? Does Lockyer measure his life against Andrew Johns? Is everything Johns does - like committing to Warrington over a tri series game that NO ONE in the Australian camp took seriously?
I have just read 2 pages of Lockyer v Johns, over who missed the most tackles? HELLO!!!!!!!!!!! We are talking about halves and 5/8's. If defence was such a major part of their game, then lets have threads comparing them to teh great halves and 5/8's of the past: Trevor Gillmeister, Terry Randall, Ray Price, Bunny Reilly, Steve Folkes etc.
Lockyer and Johns combined for 10 minutes to bail out the sinking ship, cause by the forwards pulling themselves instead of manning the bilge pump! Australia carved back 22 points. Actually, read 5 tries - 4 due to the halves. New Zealand's defence was sh*t - those remarking at Civoniceva's stepping run forget that he faced about 1 defender every square mile - and made 15 metres. It was like watching a cow competing in the Golden Slipper!
For 10 minutes, when the tired, old, match unfit side that represented Australia actually sparked due to Craig Gower, and for that one set of six by Buderis that followed Gower's example, Australia piled on points as quickly and easily as they did v the USA in their previous test. Thanks to Lockyer and Johns.
Lockyer had a poor game. Let's remember the magnificent contribution he has made to Australia, ABOVE AND BEYOND what one could reasonably expect from him. Lets forgive him.
Andrew Johns had a poor game. Lets forgive the obviously shagged out-from-globe-trotting Joey for a sub par performance. Lets celebrate that he obviously cherished that green and gold jumper enough to race back from the UK for it - in a game when neither coach, selecors, orthe selected really took seriously. And those Lockery defenders who want to crucify Johns for possibly missing the game because of the Pommy GF, sharpen your barbs and fire 'em off at Ali Lauiti'iti and Lesie Vainikolo, who did exactly that.
Johns and Lockeyr are BOTH champions, despite playing for a coach with dementure, a selectors commitee that can still remember 27 pubs at Hill End, and a forward pack that wold be mostered by the rush to the scones at a CWA fete.
