LOCKYER: I'M NOT FINISHED YET
LOCKYER: I'M NOT FINISHED YET
By Ian Laybourn
31-Oct-2010
Australia captain Darren Lockyer, the scourge of British teams for more than a decade, is showing no signs of a let-up as he prepares to deliver the knockout blow to England's Four Nations hopes.
The 33-year-old Brisbane and Queensland captain, who will win his 53rd cap against England at AAMI Park on Sunday, was contemplating retirement from the international game 12 months ago after leading the Kangaroos to the Four Nations title at Elland Road.
But after gaining "a second wind", Lockyer has hinted that he may now lead Australia on their 2011 Four Nations trip to the northern hemisphere.
"This time last year I thought that that was probably my last time with Australia," said Lockyer, who is the fourth oldest player in the NRL.
"Since that time, I worked pretty hard in the off season, got myself a little bit fitter and I felt the benefits of that.
"I feel like I've got a bit of a second wind so I could be around for a little longer yet."
The veteran stand-off became Australia's all-time leading tryscorer as the Kangaroos began the defence of their Four Nations trophy with a 42-0 defeat of Papua New Guinea at Sydney's Parramatta Stadium last Sunday.
Lockyer's 59th-minute touchdown was his 34th in Australia colours, taking him past Ken Irvine at the top of the list of all-time try-scorers, a milestone the modest captain greeted with more relief than jubilation.
"I knew until that try came, it would be talked about regularly so I was pleased to break that record and at the same time move on," he said.
While England must win tomorrow's game to stay in the tournament, Lockyer insists stakes are just as high for the Kangaroos as they look to secure their place in the final before next Saturday's Auckland showdown with the in-form Kiwis, who warmed up with a record-equalling 76-12 win over the Kumuls in Rotorua today.
"The English need to win to stay in the tournament so they're going to be desperate," added Lockyer. "We're aware of that. We're coming up against a committed team.
"The nature of the competition is that you need to win every week. We want to try and avoid going over the ditch for a must-win game."
Teams for Sunday's Four Nations Series match between Australia and England at Melbourne's AAMI Park (0730GMT) are:
Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); B Morris (St George Illawarra), B Tate (NZ Warriors), W Tonga (North Queensland), L Tuqiri (Wests Tigers); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), C Cronk (Melbourne); N Myles (Sydney Roosters), C Smith (Melbourne), P Civoniceva (Penrith), L Lewis (Penrith), S Thaiday (Brisbane), P Gallen (Cronulla).
Subs: D Shillington (Canberra), T Learoyd-Lars (Canberra), A Watmough (Manly), K Gidley (Newcastle).
England: S Tomkins (Wigan); D Goulding (Wigan), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), R Atkins (Warrington), T Briscoe (Hull); S O'Loughlin (Wigan), L Robinson (Huddersfield); J Graham (St Helens, capt), J Roby (St Helens), S Burgess (South Sydney), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), J Tomkins (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington).
Subs: S Lunt (Huddersfield), S Fielden (Wigan), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), B Harrison (Warrington).
Referee: T Archer (Australia).
Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...ague/10/10/30/RUGBYL_Australia_Nightlead.html