Origin challenge no world title fight

[Broncodroid]

From www.nrl.com

Origin challenge no title fight

13 June 2005


Wednesday night's second Origin may be a promoter's dream, but Queensland captain Darren Lockyer says his latest battle with champion Blues half Andrew Johns is not a "world title".

At various stages during the past three or four years, Lockyer and Johns have held the title "world's best player".

But Lockyer said his 13th meeting with Johns in the Origin ring would not settle arguments among fans as to who was the best player in rugby league.

"All I know is it's always a challenge playing against Andrew," said Lockyer.

"If you win, you feel like you have had a victory over a rival you've had a bit of confrontation with over the years.

NSW fans regard Johns as one of the great players of all-time.

He's played 21 Origins - 12 against Lockyer.

Not surprisingly there's not much between their head to head records since they first clashed in 1998 with Johns boasting six wins and Lockyer four victories - there have also been two draws.

Johns will be a little underdone having played just nine games in two years following serious knee and jaw injuries.

The two-time Golden Boot winner however is hungry after so long on the sidelines and he still has that aura that even makes champion players like Lockyer nervous.

When Johns had a knee reconstruction in 2004, Lockyer inherited the Australian captaincy.

A stunning Ashes performance resulted in him claiming Johns' title as the game's best player.

Wednesday night's clash at Sydney's Telstra Stadium will be a little different with Lockyer now playing in the halves which puts him a lot closer to Johns.

The Queensland captain didn't want to buy into suggestions that Wednesday night's winner could legitimately call himself the best player in the world.

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"The one thing I know is he's a really good competitor who'll be doing everything in his power to get a win for NSW," said Lockyer.

"That's the way I have to think as well."

Lockyer said Johns' unpredictable kicking game would make NSW more dangerous.

"You can't predict anything about his kicking game, you just have to be ready for everything and anything on the night."

The Queenslanders were heckled when they went for a team walk around the streets of Parramatta but it was nothing compared to what they will cop at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday.

The main target will be forward enforcer Carl Webb whom Lockyer said had taken over Gorden Tallis' mantle as the player Blues' fans wanted to hate.

Queensland, with Souths utility Ashley Harrison on standby as 18th man, will wrap up preparations with a training session at Telstra Stadium in the morning.

 

[Broncodroid]

Lockyer is in a lose/lose situation South of the border...

If QLD win...Andrew Johns was "underdone" and will be better for the run. We will see alot of excuses and no credit will be given to the game's best player over the last 2 years in Darren Lockyer.

If QLD lose...Andrew Johns whether he is simply just solid or a standout will be hailed as the game's best player.

This match is no showdown IMO. Johns has a way to go to reclaim the mantle he once held, one game does not make up for two years of consistency as the very best.

Darren Lockyer has for the last 2 seasons consistently shown there is no better player in the game. Yes, Andrew Johns was not there, though since coming back, he has hardly done anything to suggest he is near that level. Hell, he was outshone by Lockyer a couple of weeks ago and there was no mention. If the role was reversed, it would be back page news in NSW.

Humble in defeat, humble in victory is Darren Lockyer. Whether not he is the star tomorrow night, he is simply hoping for a QLD win thus securing the series and whilst he won't acknowledge it, adding to his legend as Rugby League great.

Darren Lockyer's tackling will be questioned once more, I am confident he will be just fine. Last start Lockyer made 29 tackles and missed 2 vs Newcastle, Andrew Johns made 15 and missed 2 in that same game. Both will see some traffic in attempt to dull their impact, both will be the focal point in attack. If the Dragons props don't do their job again, Johns is behind the eight ball as was Kimmorley.

This matchup sells papers and creates the "theatre" that is Origin...

 

[Saint 60]

Typical SoO tho -- tell ya another one...
Webb..played what 5 SoO games..some would be off the bench -
Now comparing him to Tallis>?
lol go figure -----

 

[Tommy Smith]

Are you related to Lockyer by any chance B'Droid?

What a pathetic article. To suggest a single League game on its own would determine who the best player in the game is, is ridiculous and childish.

Btw, i believe Danny Buderus was the best player in the game last year.

 

[RABK]

Should be a great clash between two origin legends. Looking forward to it.

 

[RABK]

Lockyer is in a lose/lose situation South of the border...

If QLD win...Andrew Johns was "underdone" and will be better for the run. We will see alot of excuses and no credit will be given to the game's best player over the last 2 years in Darren Lockyer.

If QLD lose...Andrew Johns whether he is simply just solid or a standout will be hailed as the game's best player.

This match is no showdown IMO. Johns has a way to go to reclaim the mantle he once held, one game does not make up for two years of consistency as the very best.

Darren Lockyer has for the last 2 seasons consistently shown there is no better player in the game. Yes, Andrew Johns was not there, though since coming back, he has hardly done anything to suggest he is near that level. Hell, he was outshone by Lockyer a couple of weeks ago and there was no mention. If the role was reversed, it would be back page news in NSW.

Humble in defeat, humble in victory is Darren Lockyer. Whether not he is the star tomorrow night, he is simply hoping for a QLD win thus securing the series and whilst he won't acknowledge it, adding to his legend as Rugby League great.

Darren Lockyer's tackling will be questioned once more, I am confident he will be just fine. Last start Lockyer made 29 tackles and missed 2 vs Newcastle, Andrew Johns made 15 and missed 2 in that same game. Both will see some traffic in attempt to dull their impact, both will be the focal point in attack. If the Dragons props don't do their job again, Johns is behind the eight ball as was Kimmorley.

This matchup sells papers and creates the "theatre" that is Origin...

God you just hate the fact that Johns IS better then Lockyer.

Over the past two years Johns hasn't played so of course Lockyer has been better, Btw Buderus has been the best player in the world the past 2 years.

I think Lockyer is a champion, you guys north of the border love him just like we love our champions down here. But in my honest opinion he just lacks the complete game that Origin legends have had. Lewis, Fittler, Daley, Johns...they all have excellent attack but they all had the punishing defense, lockyers best is a shirt grab. You can't deny it.

When Johns retires he will go down as an all time great, a future Immortal just like Lockyer will. But Johns will deservedly go down in history as the better player, learn to live with it...

Hell, Fittler and Daley will deservedly go down as better players then Lockyer.

 

[Ghoulies]

Jesus R&BK, do you have to bring up the same tired argument? This whole 'best in the world' BS is just a matter of opinion, and the sooner you learn to accept other peoples opinions, the sooner you can go back and marvel at these two future greats.

 

[Nugby]

Either way, I think we can all agree that a showdown in Queensland with the series drawn and Johns having played a month striaght would be a far better "world title fight" than tonight will be.

 

[Bazal]

Lockyer sh*ts on Johns, end of discussion. No matter what happens in Origin 2.

 

[Homer's Bowling Ball]

I'm looking forward to seeing them both in the halves for Australia later this year.

 

[JJ]

Lockyer sh*ts on Johns, end of discussion. No matter what happens in Origin 2.

That's just a dumb statement. johns has hardly played in the last 2 years, and Lockyer has been the best player.

Overall though, Johns is likely to rank higher in most people's lists of the best of all time... that doesn't make Lockyer not great too - why do we have to keep arguing when they are both amazing players - Johns just has a personality that rubs people the wrong way, whereas Lockyer shows little evidence of a personality

 

[kickback]

God you just hate the fact that Johns IS better then Lockyer.

Over the past two years Johns hasn't played so of course Lockyer has been better, Btw Buderus has been the best player in the world the past 2 years.

I think Lockyer is a champion, you guys north of the border love him just like we love our champions down here. But in my honest opinion he just lacks the complete game that Origin legends have had. Lewis, Fittler, Daley, Johns...they all have excellent attack but they all had the punishing defense, lockyers best is a shirt grab. You can't deny it.

When Johns retires he will go down as an all time great, a future Immortal just like Lockyer will. But Johns will deservedly go down in history as the better player, learn to live with it...

Hell, Fittler and Daley will deservedly go down as better players then Lockyer.

You have got to be kidding your self, Buderus maybe a good player but to even say his name in the same sentence as Lockyer you must have been watching every game in the last 7 years with your knights beenie over your eyes.

Lockyer is the best player in the world at the momment and if johns wants that back again he will have to prove him self and not get injured.

Fittler and Daley may have been great players, but lockyer has more class in every aspect. Lewis is the only other player that could control an origin match like Lockyer and Johns.

 

[Darth Bobo]

That's just a dumb statement. johns has hardly played in the last 2 years, and Lockyer has been the best player.

Overall though, Johns is likely to rank higher in most people's lists of the best of all time... that doesn't make Lockyer not great too - why do we have to keep arguing when they are both amazing players - Johns just has a personality that rubs people the wrong way, whereas Lockyer shows little evidence of a personality

But he sure can tell a joke!

 

[kickback]

Yeah bulldogs and st george fans love lockys jokes!!!!!

 

[Raiders Plight]

You have got to be kidding your self, Buderus maybe a good player but to even say his name in the same sentence as Lockyer you must have been watching every game in the last 7 years with your knights beenie over your eyes.

Lockyer is the best player in the world at the momment and if johns wants that back again he will have to prove him self and not get injured.

Fittler and Daley may have been great players, but lockyer has more class in every aspect. Lewis is the only other player that could control an origin match like Lockyer and Johns.

You haven't seen many origin games have you. Daley has controlled more origin games than lockyer and johns. I didn't see those 2 players have a peice dedicated to them last night like lozza did.

 

[kickback]

Daley was great dont get me wrong, and will be held up there with the best. Locky and John just have something else which you cant teach. And yes they did have a little segment in it last night, thats pretty good for players still playing.

 

[Broncodroid]

Darren Lockyer is 27 y.o., he had 5 years ahead of him to furher cement his place as an all-time great. I would be of the opinion he would be flattered to mentioned ahead of Daley, Fittler and Johns at this point in time when reflecting on his career up until this point.

The QLD and Australian captain has a lot of time left to continue to add to his legend, this series is another opportunity.

 

[Mr Saab]

best part was that Johns had a 20 sec highlights package showing how good he was in origin. Didnt compare to others that had 1-2 mins spoken about them. Just shows where Johns is held in regards to the origin arena. He shines at club level, but not as great in origin.
Anyone who says Buderus has been the best player the past 2 yrs has no idea.
Just because "Bedsy" won the dally M doesnt mean anything. Its voted upon by journos like Kent, Hooper (NFI x 1000 that guy) Ritchie and chesterton.

 

[Homer's Bowling Ball]

There was a longer story on Johns getting flattened by Goddard than the segment on his impact on Origin...

 

[JJ]

best part was that Johns had a 20 sec highlights package showing how good he was in origin. Didnt compare to others that had 1-2 mins spoken about them. Just shows where Johns is held in regards to the origin arena. He shines at club level, but not as great in origin.
Anyone who says Buderus has been the best player the past 2 yrs has no idea.
Just because "Bedsy" won the dally M doesnt mean anything. Its voted upon by journos like Kent, Hooper (NFI x 1000 that guy) Ritchie and chesterton.

When Johns has been able to play origin he has been very very influential - I think that's unfair.

But Fittler too, didn't play his best football in origin, nor Sterling, and of course the King (and a number of other Queensland greats) didn't play his best in the NSW comp. but at the end of the day, when listing the greatest footballers of all time, all will get a mention (including Lockyer) despite all having blots on the resume (Lockyer is frail defensively, and a number of times was very frail at fullback in tests against NZ)...

I do not for a second think that Langer, Kenny and Daley rate higher than Sterling, Fittler, Lewis, or Lockyer (but certainly they're in the same bracket). But Langer, kenny and Daley spring to mind as players that were wonderful at international, club, and origin levels...