Barry Dick, The Courier Mail Sport Blog

DID WE GET IT RIGHT?

Seventeen years at the top level of the game; four premierships; 33 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 54 Tests for Australia.

Says it all, yet at the same time says nothing of Darren Lockyer’s wonderful rugby league career.

Statistics and records alone cannot start to describe Lockyer’s contributions to rugby league.

As soon as I heard the news that the Broncos captain would be hanging up the boots at the end of the NRL season, I phoned his long-time coach and mentor Wayne Bennett and asked him to nominate a few highlights of Locky’s career.

''You’re kidding,’’ Bennett replied. ''There have been far too many highlights to list.

''I’ll tell you what, though, I reckon if you asked Darren for his highlights, they would be the premierships (1997-98, 2000 and 2006. Grand finals are what players like Darren play for.’’

My personal highlight from watching a great player throughout those 17 years would have to be the 2003 Kangaroo tour of England when Australia won the Ashes 3-0 against England, coming from behind in each Test with Lockyer being the difference.

Darren Lockyer’s 10 career highlights, as chosen by Barry Dick:

1995: Makes his first grade debut against Parramatta at Parramatta as an 18-year-old. Veteran team-mates are left in awe of his skills.

2000 grand final: Lockyer wins the Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match as Brisbane beats the Roosters.

2001 State of Origin: Wayne Bennett introduces 10 debutants for Game One in response to a record thrashing by NSW the previous year. Lockyer sets up the first try. He then takes over as captain from Gorden Tallis and is named man of the match in the decider.

2003 Kangaroo tour. Australia wins the Ashes 3-0, coming from behind in each Test and Lockyer is outstanding in all three games.

2004 Tri-Nations: Lockyer returns from a rib cartilege injury and Australia blasts England 44-4 in the final.

2006 State of Origin: Under heavy cricitism leading into Game Three in Melbourne, Lockyer scores the winning try and has a huge influence on the game.

2006 Preliminary final: Looking down and out at halftime when they trail 6-20, the Broncos come back to beat Canterbury 37-20 with Lockyer superb in the second half. ``That’s the game that won us the premiership,’’ says Wayne Bennett.

2006 grand final. Brisbane pulls off a stunning 15-8 win over Melbourne with Lockyer the puppeteer. He kicks two goals and the decisive field goals.

2006 Tri-Nations final: A classic encounter between Australia and the Kiwis with Lockyer scoring the winning try seven minutes into extra time.

2010 State of Origin: Lockyer is man of the match as the Maroons belt NSW 34-4 at Suncorp Stadium to win an unprecedented fifth series in a row.

Got your own moment to add? What Lockie magic will you never forget?