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Darren Lockyer - Source: Getty -
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Win, lose or draw his last State or Origin series, Darren Lockyer has earned the right to become Australian rugby league's eighth Immortal.
Lockyer has made it clear he doesn't want his farewell series to take any focus off Queensland's bid for a fifth successive Origin series win over their southern enemies.
But no matter how much he insists the 2010 series shouldn't be about him, his teammates admit there's powerful motivation to win for a man who has contributed so much to the game and especially to his beloved Queensland.
Maroons captain-in-waiting Cameron Smith says: "It wouldn't sit well with me for a guy of his calibre to go out on a losing series".
Warhorse prop Petero Civoniceva, who's played a majority of his 25 Origins and record 41 Tests as a forward alongside Lockyer, acknowledges there'll be a little bit of extra emotion in his play.
"He's such a special bloke, it's hard to put it into words," says Civoniceva. "He's a tremendous captain the way he leads Queensland in every game.
"He's so calm. He's not into ranting and raving, he just leads by example.
"I don't know how many times I've seem him win games for the Broncos, Queensland or for Australia. He's always that guy who gives the last pass or is there to take the last pass to score the winning try."
Civoniceva would head a long queue to endorse Lockyer as the game's next Immortal.
Legendary South Sydney fullback Clive "The Little Master" Churchill was the first Immortal and has been joined by Johnny Raper, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson.
The status can only be conferred in retirement and Andrew Johns was the latest to have his name thrown about when he quit the game.
However after his drugs admission, Johns may always have to be satisfied with the tags of "champion" and "best player not to be immortalised"
Once Lockyer hangs up the boots and meets the necessary criteria, his claims are irresistible.
For whatever reason, Lockyer has battled critics through his career.
His leadership, his ability to successfully change positions, his defence and even at times his toughness have come under question.
As champions do, he answered them all and his playing record and service to rugby league stand up to any scrutiny.
Churchill played 157 games for the Rabbitohs and 37 games for Australia during the 1940s-50s.
Raper, a glorious cover-defending lock forward played 185 games for the Dragons, 24 for NSW and, until Civoniceva recently past it - held the record for most Tests as a forward at 39.
Lewis played 301 games for Brisbane Valleys, the Broncos and Gold Coast, 31 Origins for Queensland and 30 Tests for Australia.
Lockyer's massive 325 club games and representative record in 30 Origins and 51 Tests already matches any of them whether it be for premierships, or Origin or Tests.
In all of the 30 years this writer has written about State of Origin since its inception, I've only seen three players who could - and did - dominate time and time again in a Maroons jumper.
Lewis was one - perhaps the best.
His uncanny ability to read the play kept him a move ahead of his rivals.
His leadership was inspirational. Like Lockyer, he led with actions. His passing and kicking games were sublime and at times his defence could be brutal.
Halfback Allan Langer was another.
Fearless for such a small man, Alfie was impossible to defend close to the line.
He was always singled out by bigger players but never shirked his defensive responsibilities and his short kicking game terrorised and mesmerised rivals.
Then there is Lockyer.
As a youngster, Lockyer was a dynamic ball-running fullback who floated across the ground.
When master coach Wayne Bennett needed a spark to ignite the Broncos he asked Lockyer to switch to five-eighth - a move many sceptics doubted he could make and play at the same level.
Again Lockyer left them red-faced.
Two years after switching, Lockyer led Brisbane to the club's sixth premiership with the No.6 on his back.
In one of his finest seasons, he took Queensland to Origin success, skippered Australia to Test glory and ended the year as the world's No.1 player - winning the prestigious Golden Boot award.
After ending month's of speculation over his rep future, Lockyer will lead his Maroons in Origin battle in the coming weeks and another record-breaking series victory would be a fitting exit.
The representative curtain will fall after he helps Australia defend its Four Nations title at the end of the year.
And the time is approaching when the 33-year-old must be considered to join the Immortals.
He's played over 300 NRL games - all for Brisbane.
He's Australian's most-capped captain.
He's played more Tests than any other player in history and scored more Test tries than any other player, having passed legendary winger Ken Irvine's old mark.
Lockyer has also achieved the unique feat of being voted the games number one player in two different positions as Golden Boot winner at fullback in 2003 and again in 2006 as a five-eighth.
By anyone's standards - a truly immortal effort.
