Lockyer feeling strain as Maroons selector
DARREN Lockyer waged war for Queensland in 36 Origin appearances.
More recently, he’s been fighting battles on a very different front for his state.
As a selector, the 40-year-old is no less passionate about the Maroons’ cause than when he was captain and star five-eighth.
Along with Gene Miles and coach Kevin Walters, they are charged with picking a combination they believe can beat NSW.
But it’s a job that comes with a high level of scrutiny – usually from their “own”. Particularly this year. First there was the non-selection of the legendary Billy Slater for game one, with Darius Boyd preferred at fullback.
And this week there’s been criticism after the selectors overlooked the in-form Daly Cherry-Evans for Wednesday night’s series decider at Suncorp Stadium.
“For a long time the selectors weren’t really talked about a lot because the team never changed, we were winning,” Lockyer said.
“Now we’re going through a bit of a transitional phase, it (selection) has created a lot of debate.
“I guess you just draw on your experience as a player. You know what’s required to win at that level, and you use that to make judgments.”
Lockyer has extreme confidence in the Storm’s Cameron Munster to do the job at No.6 in the absence of sidelined superstar Johnathan Thurston, and also defended the decision to include Ben Hunt, who only last month was dropped by the Brisbane Broncos.
“He’s a footballer, there’s
no doubt about that,” Lockyer said of Rockhampton product Munster.
“He was always destined to play for Queensland at Origin.
“With Thurston being injured and (Anthony) Milford not there, he’s got an opportunity.
“Once the decision was made to go with Munster in the halves then we had to find that replacement for (Michael) Morgan on the bench ... Hunt was a better fit.”
Lockyer said he had total faith in his successor as Queensland skipper, Cameron Smith, who took over in 2012, to direct whoever is under him in a Maroons jumper.
“You just know that whatever team you bring
together, if Cameron Smith’s there leading it is going to play well,” he said.
Asked if there was one player from the Blues line-up he would like on his side, Lockyer thinks for a moment.
“There’s a lot of things to like about a lot of them,” he said.
“But James Maloney ... even though he’s a bit cheeky at times, he’s just a winner.
“He’s a player that really wherever he goes success seems to follow him.”
Lockyer will take his selector’s hat off on
Wednesday and replace it with a Channel Nine commentary cap, reporting from the sideline.
“I don’t get carried away with emotions too much anyway but I always say to myself I’m there to represent Channel Nine. I’ve got to tell it how I see it.
“But it’s good to have some friendly rivalry between the commentators.
“I try not to be too biased ... but just deep deep down hope we get the job done.”
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I try not to be too biased ... but just deep deep down hope we get the job done.
— Darren Lockyer