Lockyer statue unveiled in Brisbane

Updated March 09, 2012 10:44:52

Queensland's two greatest five-eighths Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer have finally been paired up at Brisbane's rugby league fortress Lang Park.

Lockyer, who retired as Australia's victorious Four Nations captain late last year, was immortalised in bronze on Friday morning.

Hundreds of fans turned up at the Milton ground for the official unveiling of his life-sized bronze statue performed by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

His statue stands a spiral pass away from that of Lewis - a player he idolised as a kid growing up in Roma, the hometown of another Queensland legend, Arthur Beetson who died earlier this year from a massive heart attack.

As usual Lockyer was humbled by the latest tribute to his record-breaking rugby league career in which he played more NRL (355), Origins (36) and Test (59) matches than any other player in history.

Lockyer told a crowd of several hundred one of the greatest days of his childhood came when his father organised for him to meet Lewis.

"Wally Lewis was someone I idolised as the King so to meet him when I was about 12 years old was a massive day in my life," Lockyer said.

"To wind the clock forward to 20 years later to be here is very special to me."

Lockyer, who used to cop it from team-mates because of his bandy legs and lack of hair towards the end of his career, was happy with the 200 kilogram bronze replica depicting him about to throw one of his trademark passes.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted March 09, 2012 10:41:39

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'Locky' statue to stand at Lang Park

Queensland rugby league hero Darren Lockyer may be retiring from the game, but he will forever be immortalised in bronze.

Darren Locker will play his final State of Origin clash tonight, marking the end of an era for the rugby league player, and for many Queensland fans.

But he won't fall from the spotlight that easily, as a life-size statue of him is being made to stand beside that of Wally Lewis at Lang Park.

Phillip Piperides is the sculptor creating the statue, and says it was an honour to be chosen as the artist to work on the project.

"There was a lot of backwards and forwards, I put my presentation to everyone and obviously they were happy with what I presented and I was fortunate enough to be the one to create it," Phillip says.

Darren Lockyer hasn't posed for the statue, Phillip instead used photos and video footage for inspiration.

"He's a very busy man and I didn't really need him to pose, there's enough information on Darren available."

Lockyer has since given his tick of approval to the statue, although Phillip says he's very modest about it.

"He's very quiet and reserved and I don't think this is something that he would have pushed forward, I don't think he really likes the idea of seeing himself in bronze forever standing in front of the stadium, but it's happened and now he's happy to go along with it."

Phillip says the hardest part of the process so far was deciding on what pose to use.

"It had to be a real likeness of him so that it's recognisable straight off," he says.

"It's not easy but he's such a high-profile player, and such a recognisable figure on the field, so that helped to get the one image, which was his magical pass, that's what I focussed on.

"It seems to sum up him just being such a great player, it's his signature move and it seems to be something he's happy with."

Now that the pose has been chosen, and work started on the statue, Phillip says the big reveal of the final product can be expected in a couple of months, although no strict date has been set.

"There's still a lot of work to be done in the detailing, he's running without shoes at the moment, so we need his shoes, hands, and face to be detailed, and to go a little bit further to have that instantly recognisable look of Darren."

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