Lockyer ready to lead Broncos

Correspondent

It had been feared that Lockyer may miss the game having just undergone wrist surgery, but the Australia captain will be ready to take part in the Carnegie World Club Challenge on 23 February.

The likes of Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate and Karmichael Hunt will also be on the plane that leaves for England tomorrow, with a warm-up game against National League Two Celtic Crusaders scheduled for Thursday.

Lockyer says he wants the World Club Challenge to add to his collection, having led Brisbane to the NRL Premiership, Queensland to their State of Origin win, and Australia to the Gillette Tri-Nations, scoring the winning try against New Zealand in extra time.

The Broncos will want to reverse the trend of Super League clubs’ dominance in the competition and assert the strength of the NRL Tesltra Premiership, especially as they themselves lost out to Saints in the 2001 World Club Challenge.