Darren Lockyer spent 17 years pushing his body to its limits in perhaps the toughest football competition in the world. Upon his retirement at the end of the 2011 NRL season, he set the all-time appearance record for club, state, and country. The remarkable longevity of Lockyer’s excellence has earned him the respect of fellow athletes around the world and the adoration of fans everywhere. But while undoubtedly one of the most recognizable athletes in Australia, Lockyer has largely maintained his privacy.
In this book, Darren opens up on the people, places, incidents, and events that have shaped the life and career of an Australian sporting icon. From his days growing up and working at the family-owned truck stop on the outskirts of the tiny Queensland town of Wandoan, to his arrival at the Broncos as a teenage sensation and subsequent ascension toward rugby league immortality, this book will shed light on some of the biggest names and stories of the past two decades. Contributions from Lockyer’s family and friends, as well as legendary figures like Wayne Bennett, Wendell Sailor, Andrew Johns, Mal Meninga, Johnathan Thurston, Gorden Tallis, George Gregan, Ricky Stuart and Craig Bellamy, give this book a unique edge, with each providing a rare insight into Lockyer: the player, the leader, and the man.