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Rugby League

Major injury blow for Lockyer

14/07/2007

Australia rugby league captain Darren Lockyer faces up to nine months on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury while in action for club side Brisbane Broncos.

Lockyer caused an initial rupture to his anterior cruciate ligament in the first half of an NRL clash against North Queensland, but attempted to play on before being helped from the field three minutes before the hooter.

"I am disappointed but I can't do anything about it. Sometimes things like this happen. I have seen a lot of my mates have to go through things like this," said Lockyer.
"It is going to be a whole new challenge for me, but what's done is done."

The Kangaroos will have to do without their pivotal star for their clash with New Zealand on October 14th, while Lockyer will also have to turn down an invite to join the New Zealand "All Golds" tour of Britain in the same month.

Legendary Australian Andrew Johns has already had to excuse himself from the Kiwis' tour after retiring from the game and now the New Zealand management will search again to find another guest star to fill the commemorative role.

The stand-off is regarded as the world's best player and is the only man to have scooped the golden boot award for the year's most valuable international twice in his career.

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