Broncos wait on Lockyer's doctor - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Broncos wait on Lockyer's doctor

By Wayne Heming 06/05/2008 05:08:04 PM Comments (0)

Brisbane will delay Darren Lockyer's exploratory knee surgery until his specialist Dr Peter Meyers returns from overseas next week.

Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said reports the club was searching for a replacement surgeon were incorrect and that Meyers would consult Lockyer before any procedure was performed on his right knee.

Lockyer, who pulled out of Friday night's Centenary Test because of ongoing knee soreness following his off-season reconstruction, is keen to undergo arthroscopic surgery to clean out his knee.

The champion five-eighth has convinced himself all is not right even though several scans have shown the knee is structurally stable and the operation was a success.

Cullen, who revealed Lockyer was never going to play this weekend against Manly after the Test, said if he went under the knife again, Meyers would be the surgeon.

"We definitely want Peter Meyers to see Darren when he comes back so there's going to be a delay of about a week.

"Just as we have in the past, we'll be very cautious about when he returns.

"He won't be rushed and we've never sent him onto the field thinking there was a problem there.

"The doctors have always told us the operation was a success, and that the knee was very stable."

In-form forward Sam Thaiday expressed a view shared by many, saying Lockyer would be most needed at the "money end" of the season.

"We'd rather have him 100 per cent fit at the end of the year than have him limping through games now," said Thaiday, who is pushing for State of Origin selection after some eye-catching club form.

"That's the money end of the season and when you want your best players on the field.

Thaiday's form had some onlookers suggesting he was unlucky not be playing in Friday night's Test.

"You'd rather be in it than have people talking about you being in it," he said.

Thaiday's one-hand, around-the-corner pass off his knees which led to a try against the Tigers last weekend had commentators likening his off-loading skills to that of Arthur Beetson.

"I don't think I'm as a big as Artie Beetson," he laughed.

"It's not something I've been working on that much, it's always something I've had there.

"Wayne (Bennett) has give me a little leeway to do the things I want do to."

Thaiday revealed his decision to "stop being a kid" had taken his game and fitness to another level.

"I kind of grew up I think, stopped being the young kid in the off season and it's really working out for me," he said.

"I'm feeling a lot fitter. It's something I've worked hard on and it's really paying off for me now.

"I'm playing extended periods of 70 and 80 minutes and I'm feeling good playing it.

"I was playing 30 or 40 minutes in previous years and I was sick of it and I didn't want to be stuck on the bench for the rest of my career.

"I wanted a starting spot so I worked really hard in the off-season and it's come along really well."

Utility David Stagg was named at five-eighth as expected, with Justin Hodges assuming Lockyer's captaincy duties for the Mother's Day clash with Manly.

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