Should Darren Lockyer be picked for the ANZAC test?

[Parrasque]

Minichello is a better fullback than him...

Thurston is a better 5/8 than him...

Johns is a better Captain than him...

I don't think there SHOULD be a spot for him.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I dont know if it was Stuart or an Australian selector but they said to regain the Tri Nations they were gonna pick the team on form.

The question is Lockyer on form?

Its hard to say really, if Thurston doesnt get picked it'll be a farce. If Lockyer doesnt get picked it'll be a farce cause he's Australia's captain. If Lockyer is picked at fullback it'll be farce cause Minichello is the best fullback.

 

[girvie]

Minichello is a better fullback than him...

Thurston is a better 5/8 than him...

Johns is a better Captain than him...

I don't think there SHOULD be a spot for him.

I agree. Lockyer isn't the best in his position so he shouldn't be in the Australian team.

 

[Yosh]

you don't elect a player to be captain then put him in the team automatically coz he is chosen to be captian. you choose your best 17 players then choose a player, who has the best captaining abilities out of that team to be captain. its simply.

 

[The Observer]

There are plenty of fickle fans here with a short memory, so let me remind them of the proverb "form is temporary, class is permanent".

Lockyer is a world class player that is playing in a struggling Broncos team. He has been a brilliant Kangaroos captain, his playing and leadership record as test captain is superb, unlike some of our past captains he's barely ever brought a negative headline to the game either. Let's not forget that Lockyer almost single handedly pulled Australia out of the fire as captain in tests in 2003, 2004 AND 2005.

Notice too that when Lockyer was out with injury in 2005, we were demolished by the Kiwis.

Locky will be captain and 6, Johns will not be made captain for one final test match because he is retiring, Australia needs continuity in leadership, the selectors know that and coach Stuart probably knows that. If Stuart is smart, he won't have Lockyer defending in the middle of the park and will keep him fresh for attack.

That said, Thurston is a great player and one of the form players. If we blood him now, it should be off the bench, he should not be rushed at all. Even Prince struggled to make an impact for Australia after being blooded for the Aus Invitational XIII against NZ A.

 

[drake]

Will he: maybe.
Should he; well that depends on how you pick.
I'd like to see the team picked on form, as a reward for being in prime condition, rather than the memory of yesteryear.

If it is on form it should be Thurston, without a doubt.

Don't be surprised to see one Braith Anasta in the role though.

 

[Parrasque]

I have not seen Lockyer perform in a few years

 

[The Preacher]

NO, but he will be, as 5/8 and captain

 

[JoeysWheelchair05]

Lockyer has been a great example for the game of football, and he is a terrific leader. As for his biggest opponent for the captaincy in Andrew Johns, I think it would be a terrible mistake to give him the captaincy.

Remember, this is Johns' last test, but people also have a short memory. Last year, he was prepared to choose the ESL over playing for his country in the trinations, he also was prepared to go to Rugby Union, all for the sake of 'seeking new challenges' and really, a player that even considers those two things, doesn't deserve to captain Australia.

Should Lockyer be picked? Yes, as long as Thurston gets a spot on the bench and is able to play an impact role. If Thurston isn't picked, and Lockyer is, then it'll be disappointing.

 

[Azkatro]

There are plenty of fickle fans here with a short memory, so let me remind them of the proverb "form is temporary, class is permanent".

Lockyer is a world class player that is playing in a struggling Broncos team. He has been a brilliant Kangaroos captain, his playing and leadership record as test captain is superb, unlike some of our past captains he's barely ever brought a negative headline to the game either. Let's not forget that Lockyer almost single handedly pulled Australia out of the fire as captain in tests in 2003, 2004 AND 2005.

Notice too that when Lockyer was out with injury in 2005, we were demolished by the Kiwis.

Locky will be captain and 6, Johns will not be made captain for one final test match because he is retiring, Australia needs continuity in leadership, the selectors know that and coach Stuart probably knows that. If Stuart is smart, he won't have Lockyer defending in the middle of the park and will keep him fresh for attack.

That said, Thurston is a great player and one of the form players. If we blood him now, it should be off the bench, he should not be rushed at all. Even Prince struggled to make an impact for Australia after being blooded for the Aus Invitational XIII against NZ A.

THANK YOU! Amen! I get so tired of seeing fanboys ranting about players who have strung some good football together deserving representative selection. First of all, I am a huge fan of Thurston and truly believe he is a class act. But his time will come. Show me the last time Lockyer performed poorly in a test match, and I'll show you examples of players who were picked purely on form and went missing in rep games (Watmough anybody?)

The media bandwagon is riding Lockyer for all it's worth at the moment and you're all jumping on board. Get over it!

 

[miccle]

Yes, he should. The above post about class being permanent is extremely well written.

Okay, I'll admit Thurston has been the form 5/8 of the past five weeks. But what does that really say? Who here thinks that Buderus has been THE form hooker of the year? Now, who would be complaining if he got picked in the hooking role over Aaron Payne if he was fit? Not many I assume.

This is a great chance for Thurston to get promoted into the Aussie test team, but instead of lumping the kid with all the responsibility, give it to tried and tested performers. Thursto can have Wing's spot on the bench IMO, and will be free to enter the game and rove around to provide maximum impact.

Face it, teams are only picked on form so often. I can pretty much guarantee that Hodges won't be a starting centre, even though he has been the number one centre in the game this year, and I'm positive Civoniceva won't get a starting spot at prop despite being close to the Broncos best all year.

 

[Twizzle]

I dont know if it was Stuart or an Australian selector but they said to regain the Tri Nations they were gonna pick the team on form.

The question is Lockyer on form?

Its hard to say really, if Thurston doesnt get picked it'll be a farce. If Lockyer doesnt get picked it'll be a farce cause he's Australia's captain. If Lockyer is picked at fullback it'll be farce cause Minichello is the best fullback.

they say that every year

Locky will play 5/8 and he'll be captain imo

 

[aussies1st]

It's time to drop him. Thurston has jumped ahead in the peaking order.

 

[Mr Saab]

What Observer said.

 

[Kiwi]

To be honest

On current for, no, on what he can do, yes, on what he has done, yes, because he is the captain, yes.

Would I be disapointed if he wasn't selected

As a Kiwi, no, as a Bronco fan, no, as an international league fan, yes.

This is the first time Lockyer's selection has been questioned by anyone other than a few fans. One of two things is going to happen, he will be selected, and like Joey last year when selected for origin when form should have seen him miss out he will destroy the Kiwi's, NSW's, and fire up the Broncos and prove the doubters wrong, or he will be dropped and he come out firing for the Broncos and QLD to prove he should have been there.

Lockyer is class, and class is perminent and we ALL know what it's like to whipe egg off our faces when doubting such a player and laying the boot in. Make no mistake, it WILL happen again to the doubters.

Beware the wounded superstar, they generally make people look very stupid and often.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Lockyer always plays awesome for Australia, and he has been in form. have a look at the try assists leaderboard, hes one of the top assist leaders and the broncos havent even scored that many tries, and with that he has no help at the broncos with hunt only recently stepping up while his halves partner, seymour is a joke.

 

[Razor]

Notice too that when Lockyer was out with injury in 2005, we were demolished by the Kiwis

To be fair Australia was missing quite a few players due to injury in that match, including Johns. And Bennett's gameplan did have some major flaws which even the commentators picked up in the first 15-20 minutes.

 

[851]

It was Stuart who said "no one is safe,the side will be picked on form".
Well Sticky lets see the size of those cajoulies,because on form Locky misses out.

 

[lockyno1]

Lockyer will be picked, as Observer said "class is permanant". Thurston if he was to be blooded should be on the bench. Lets remember Thurston despite his awesome club form, like the rest of the players last year for Queesland did nothing in games 2 and 3. There is still a question of what he can do at the very top level. That said, Locky in #6, Thurston/Bowen in the #17.

 

[Meanie]

Yes.