Lockyer suffers head cut in trial win - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Lockyer suffers head cut in trial win

By Wayne Heming 27/02/2010 11:55:29 PM Comments (0)

Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak was more concerned by the potential impact of the NRL's new downtown kick rule than he was about the availability of champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer after he was injured in Saturday night's 30-20 trial win over Redcliffe.

Lockyer required 12 stitches to a nasty scalp cut and was sporting a large lump on his forehead after the game but declared he was in no danger of missing Brisbane NRL season opener in two weeks time against the Cowboys.

"I'll be fine, the doc says I will be right to play in two weeks," said Lockyer.

Henjak revealed he is not a fan of the new kick rule in which a player is penalised if he is in front of the kicker.

Brisbane were pinged three or four times against Canberra last weekend and it cost them a 40-20 against Redcliffe with Henjak saying after the game the penalty was too severe for the crime.

"It is going to have a huge impact on our footy game," fired Henjak.

"I reckon that rule in itself has got the potential to win or lose footy matches.

"If they want to take it our of the players' hands and decide who wins and who loses footy games then I hope they are consistent with it.

"I'm not a big fan of it because the impact of it is pretty savage to a footy team for a penalty to the attacking team which is going to get the footy.

"I think it makes a difference."

Lockyer's bid for some playing time ahead of the NRL season kick off was scuttled again within 20 minutes.

While the injury won't prevent him playing against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, it robbed him of an opportunity to work on his combination with No.7 Peter Wallace, also playing his first game since breaking his ankle last September.

"We were both showered up by half time," said Lockyer, with Wallace playing the first and then calling it quits.

"It's more frustrating than anything else, I'm ok."

Lockyer said his lack of playing minutes in the trials was not an issue and Henjak agreed.

"Fitness isn't an issue, it's more about getting combinations going with Pete (Wallace) and your timing in defence.

Lockyer was pleased with the work of props Nick Kenny and Thaiday were very strong early, Kenny making so hard metres up the middle and coming up with some heavy defence and Thaiday belting his way into the defence.

"I think Corey played more in the middle tonight as well and it worked very nicely.

Meanwhile the Gold Coast are awaiting scan results that will determine whether powerful Tongan World Cup centre Esi Tonga's NRL season is over before it started after tearing his biceps working in the gym last week.

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