AUSTRALIA captain Darren Lockyer has shelved plans to quit representative football after this year's rugby league World Cup.
Lockyer last year indicated the World Cup finale in his home town of Brisbane would be the ideal way to bow out of the representative arena.
But the champion five-eighth said he's had a change of heart following the success of his comeback from major knee surgery.
The 30-year-old says his decision was made as he sat in the dressing room following Brisbane's 48-12 win over Penrith on Sunday, his first match since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in July last year.
“You've got your doubts whether you'll ever be able to play like you once did,†Lockyer said at today's representative season launch in Sydney.
“I'm not 100 per cent yet but the fact I was able to get back on the field and play and do the things I was able to do, it gave me a lot of confidence.
“Last year I toyed with the idea of retiring from rep footy after this year and think the break's been really good for me and I'm committed now to say I'm going to play beyond 2008.
“Sometimes your mind's a bit cluttered and sometimes it's a bit clearer - at the moment I'm pretty clear about my decision to play beyond 2008 with rep.â€Â
The first name on the team sheet when fit, Lockyer said he was willing to risk being dropped by selectors, saying he only wanted to be picked if his form warranted selection. His decision will be music to the ears of Test and Queensland selectors.
The Maroons are on the verge of a dynasty as they go in search of their first hat-trick of Origin series wins since 1987-88-89, while Lockyer was also keen to lead the Kangaroos into a Tri-Nations campaign in the UK in 2009.
“Sometimes players like to leave on their own terms but I'm saying now I want to play beyond 2008 and I don't want to just be put in the team because of my reputation, I want to be picked there,†he said.
“I feel I've got something to offer there and at the same time I realise there's some young blokes coming through.â€Â
Lockyer also revealed his round one comeback for the Broncos nearly failed to eventuate after he was told by team physicians that his best hope was a return in round five.
He started on the bench against the Panthers but was the catalyst behind a decisive period of play when the Broncos ran away from their hapless opponents.
It was due reward for Lockyer after he took a sizable punt with his rehabilitation when he pushed himself beyond the limit set by trainers.
“They weren't pushing me as hard as I like to be pushed - they're probably just trying to be conservative and trying to make sure everything goes well,†Lockyer said.
“We just decided to up the ante a little bit. I felt like, 'I'm a bit frustrated here, I want to go a bit harder and let's aim for round one'.
“The physio was pretty amazed at the quick turnaround at the end. Physically and mentally I wasn't 100 per cent, I was a bit nervous before I went on there.
“People are expecting certain things from you. It was good to get through the game and have some nice touches, I was more happy about the team's performance really.â€Â
Lockyer flew back to Brisbane and will train with the rest of his Broncos teammates on Thursday morning before making a return trip to Sydney later in the day ahead of the Good Friday clash against the Sydney Roosters.
He said he expected to start against the Roosters and was confident his match fitness was good enough to get through the entire 80 minutes.
GO YOU LEGEND
Lockyer last year indicated the World Cup finale in his home town of Brisbane would be the ideal way to bow out of the representative arena.
But the champion five-eighth said he's had a change of heart following the success of his comeback from major knee surgery.
The 30-year-old says his decision was made as he sat in the dressing room following Brisbane's 48-12 win over Penrith on Sunday, his first match since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in July last year.
“You've got your doubts whether you'll ever be able to play like you once did,†Lockyer said at today's representative season launch in Sydney.
“I'm not 100 per cent yet but the fact I was able to get back on the field and play and do the things I was able to do, it gave me a lot of confidence.
“Last year I toyed with the idea of retiring from rep footy after this year and think the break's been really good for me and I'm committed now to say I'm going to play beyond 2008.
“Sometimes your mind's a bit cluttered and sometimes it's a bit clearer - at the moment I'm pretty clear about my decision to play beyond 2008 with rep.â€Â
The first name on the team sheet when fit, Lockyer said he was willing to risk being dropped by selectors, saying he only wanted to be picked if his form warranted selection. His decision will be music to the ears of Test and Queensland selectors.
The Maroons are on the verge of a dynasty as they go in search of their first hat-trick of Origin series wins since 1987-88-89, while Lockyer was also keen to lead the Kangaroos into a Tri-Nations campaign in the UK in 2009.
“Sometimes players like to leave on their own terms but I'm saying now I want to play beyond 2008 and I don't want to just be put in the team because of my reputation, I want to be picked there,†he said.
“I feel I've got something to offer there and at the same time I realise there's some young blokes coming through.â€Â
Lockyer also revealed his round one comeback for the Broncos nearly failed to eventuate after he was told by team physicians that his best hope was a return in round five.
He started on the bench against the Panthers but was the catalyst behind a decisive period of play when the Broncos ran away from their hapless opponents.
It was due reward for Lockyer after he took a sizable punt with his rehabilitation when he pushed himself beyond the limit set by trainers.
“They weren't pushing me as hard as I like to be pushed - they're probably just trying to be conservative and trying to make sure everything goes well,†Lockyer said.
“We just decided to up the ante a little bit. I felt like, 'I'm a bit frustrated here, I want to go a bit harder and let's aim for round one'.
“The physio was pretty amazed at the quick turnaround at the end. Physically and mentally I wasn't 100 per cent, I was a bit nervous before I went on there.
“People are expecting certain things from you. It was good to get through the game and have some nice touches, I was more happy about the team's performance really.â€Â
Lockyer flew back to Brisbane and will train with the rest of his Broncos teammates on Thursday morning before making a return trip to Sydney later in the day ahead of the Good Friday clash against the Sydney Roosters.
He said he expected to start against the Roosters and was confident his match fitness was good enough to get through the entire 80 minutes.
GO YOU LEGEND
