I Nearly Made the Move: Broncos Legend Darren Lockyer Reveals Details of His Near Deal with the Sydney Roosters

Darren Lockyer has disclosed that he narrowly missed the opportunity to join the Sydney Roosters during his prime, ultimately choosing to remain with the Brisbane Broncos.

The iconic fullback and five-eighth, renowned for his exceptional performance in both roles throughout his distinguished career, played all 355 of his first-grade matches with Brisbane.

However, there was a moment when that might not have been the case.

During an appearance on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, the 48-year-old was questioned by Andrew Johns about whether he had ever considered departing the Broncos. With Brad Fittler sitting next to him, Lockyer provided an unexpected response.

“Yeah – when he retired,” Lockyer remarked, gesturing towards Fittler.

“They were obviously looking at me; I had only just begun playing five-eighth.”

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“I was quite close, as I had just started in the five-eighth role. I wouldn’t say I was ‘close, close,’ but I did entertain the thought for a short period.

“As things progressed, I was being touted as the next captain of the Broncos, and I’ve always held a deep affection for the Broncos since I was a child, so I ended up staying.”

Fittler concluded his tenure at Bondi at the end of 2004, and media speculation during that time suggested that the Roosters were keen to bring Lockyer on board.

Ultimately, that move never materialised, and the Roosters went on to sign Braith Anasta for the 2006 season, leading to a different course of history.

Lockyer continues to hold the games record at Red Hill and is frequently mentioned in discussions about becoming a future Immortal of the sport.

He announced his retirement in 2011, not only as the most-capped Broncos player but also as the leader for the Kangaroos (59) and ranking in the top three for State of Origin matches (36).