DeeGan
06-02-06, 10:48 AM
From Foxsports.com.au
Lack of trials leaves Lockyer underdone
By Barry Dick
February 6, 2006
AUSTRALIA captain Darren Lockyer risks going into the NRL season "underdone" after ruling out playing in any of Brisbane's pre-season trials.
Lockyer has not even started running on the training paddock and there is some lingering concern that the effects of ankle surgery in December could hamper the champion five-eighth right up to the start of the Premiership.
"I've been restricted to cross training so far and have only jogged a bit on a treadmill," Lockyer said. "I wouldn't think I'd be playing any trials."
Lockyer injured his ankle on Australia's Tri-Nations tour of Britain and had a steel pin inserted in the joint in December.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Lockyer would not have a pre-season hitout but said he was confident the Queensland skipper would be ready for the season opener against North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 12.
The main problem for Brisbane is that first-choice halfback Brett Seymour also will miss all the pre-season trials because of shoulder surgery meaning the Broncos could go into the Cowboys match with neither of their chief playmakers having played any football in at least three months.
That is the main reason Bennett has picked the untested combination of Karmichael Hunt at halfback and Greg Eastwood at five-eighth for the trial against the Cowboys at Rockhampton's Browne Park on Saturday night.
A Brisbane outfit containing a few NRL hopefuls ran in 11 tries in a 72-16 win over a Wide Bay selection at Childers on Saturday, while the Cowboys blitzed a Mid-West rep team 70-6 in Richmond.
The Courier-Mail
Concern for Brisbane?
Heading in to the NRL season the Broncos are a little behind the eight ball with no established halves pairing.
Greg Eastwood is a good young player, Karmichael could be anything though I am sure Bennett is having a few sleepless nights knowing he is under the pump from to prove critics wrong in 2006.
The juggernaut that is Brisbane will be slowed in 2006 IMO. They have lost their aura and they are not feared like they once were, IMO there are at the most vunerable since the 2000 GF win. Could this be the year they miss the finals for the time in 15 years?
I am certain the competition is not going to be any easier if anything tighter than last season, the Broncos have the talent on their roster to head back to the finals though as we have seen, their big names have done nothing in the finals since 2000.
Lack of trials leaves Lockyer underdone
By Barry Dick
February 6, 2006
AUSTRALIA captain Darren Lockyer risks going into the NRL season "underdone" after ruling out playing in any of Brisbane's pre-season trials.
Lockyer has not even started running on the training paddock and there is some lingering concern that the effects of ankle surgery in December could hamper the champion five-eighth right up to the start of the Premiership.
"I've been restricted to cross training so far and have only jogged a bit on a treadmill," Lockyer said. "I wouldn't think I'd be playing any trials."
Lockyer injured his ankle on Australia's Tri-Nations tour of Britain and had a steel pin inserted in the joint in December.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Lockyer would not have a pre-season hitout but said he was confident the Queensland skipper would be ready for the season opener against North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 12.
The main problem for Brisbane is that first-choice halfback Brett Seymour also will miss all the pre-season trials because of shoulder surgery meaning the Broncos could go into the Cowboys match with neither of their chief playmakers having played any football in at least three months.
That is the main reason Bennett has picked the untested combination of Karmichael Hunt at halfback and Greg Eastwood at five-eighth for the trial against the Cowboys at Rockhampton's Browne Park on Saturday night.
A Brisbane outfit containing a few NRL hopefuls ran in 11 tries in a 72-16 win over a Wide Bay selection at Childers on Saturday, while the Cowboys blitzed a Mid-West rep team 70-6 in Richmond.
The Courier-Mail
Concern for Brisbane?
Heading in to the NRL season the Broncos are a little behind the eight ball with no established halves pairing.
Greg Eastwood is a good young player, Karmichael could be anything though I am sure Bennett is having a few sleepless nights knowing he is under the pump from to prove critics wrong in 2006.
The juggernaut that is Brisbane will be slowed in 2006 IMO. They have lost their aura and they are not feared like they once were, IMO there are at the most vunerable since the 2000 GF win. Could this be the year they miss the finals for the time in 15 years?
I am certain the competition is not going to be any easier if anything tighter than last season, the Broncos have the talent on their roster to head back to the finals though as we have seen, their big names have done nothing in the finals since 2000.