NRL: Lockyer ruled out, still eyes final

Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images

Darren Lockyer is adamant he'll play in the NRL grand final if Brisbane can win Friday's preliminary final clash with Manly without him.

Broncos skipper Lockyer ruled himself out of the Manly clash on Wednesday, ending four days of feverish speculation since he suffered a fractured cheekbone in the semi-final win over St George Illawarra.

"The team needs to know what's going on, and that way making the call today they can just get on with their preparation and get the job done without me,'' Lockyer told a media conference at the team hotel in Sydney.

However, Lockyer insisted he would be ready to play on Sunday week should his team beat Manly to qualify for the grand final against Melbourne or the Warriors.

"I'll put my hand up now that if we're alive next week I'll be playing,'' said Lockyer, who had metal plates inserted into his broken cheek on Sunday.

"If we get the result on Friday we've got another nine days till the grand final.

"We're two days away from the game, I just started thinking about it, I was operated on on Sunday and playing five days later it's just too soon.''

"Next week the fracture won't be completely healed but I'll be in a lot better shape physically and mentally to play.''

Lockyer's decision means that, unless Brisbane win on Friday, he has played his last NRL game in a record 355-game career as he is retiring after this year.

- AAP