Thaiday Craves Broncos Captaincy
Broncos back rower Sam Thaiday has expressed his desire to take over the captaincy of the Brisbane club after current skipper Darren Lockyer retires at the end of the season.
The 140 game veteran started his career at the Broncos in 2003 and he now believes he has the experience and the leadership qualities to lead the Broncos into the future.
“I have put my hand up, I’ve really expressed my interest in captaining the Broncos,” Thaiday said.
“I’d love to take on the role. I know there’s a lot of extra responcibility that comes with the role, not just on the field but off the field as well. I think I’m old enough and ugly enough to take on that job now.”
Thaiday is certainly one of the leading contenders to join the likes of Gene Miles, Allan Langer, Kevin Walters, Gorden Tallis Lockyer as players who have been selected as full times captains of the club, however he will face some stiff competition in the form of Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and prodigal son Petero Civoniceva.
Parker has captained the Broncos in Lockyer’s absence this year, while Civoniceva has acted as captain of the Broncos in his first stint at the club. He was also installed as captain in his first year at the Panthers.
However Thaiday understands that the decision is now out of his hands.
“It doesn’t come down to me. If it did I would just put the ‘C’ next to my name straight away,” he said
“I have to wait and see what happens there. That comes from the top – the board and the coaching staff.”
No matter who they select the Broncos will have a hard time replacing Lockyer, who has been touted as the next rugby league inmortal.
With almost 350 first grade games to his credit, over 1100 points, 36 origins and 55 tests for Australia, there wouldn’t be many that begrudge Lockyer a place amongst the pantheon of league greats.
However one man who has is Manly administrator Peter Peters, who said yesterday that ‘it would be a joke’ if Lockyer was named as the next immortal.
“As wonderful a player he has been, Darren Lockyer does not belong in the top echelon of those who have played the game,” Peters said.
“Is he any better than other great Queenslanders Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Allan Langer and the Walters brothers? He’s in that league, just not superior to it.”
There have been calls to expand the group of immortals which currently includes Clive Churchill, John Raper, Reg Gasnier, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson.
Debate rages over which modern day player is most deserved of joining the group, with Lockyer and former Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns among the most popular nominees.
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