Lockyer stays on as a Maroon

DELIGHTED Queensland coach Mal Meninga tipped veteran skipper Darren Lockyer to be the "shining light" of the Maroons' bid for a fifth straight State of Origin title.

Meninga said 33-year-old Lockyer would only have to worry about his own job in the Queensland team and the experience could revitalise him for the battling Broncos.

Lockyer yesterday announced he would be available for all representative commitments this year because he still had the passion for Test and Maroons Origin jersey football and did not want to leave the game with any regrets.

In a best-case scenario, Lockyer would farewell his record-breaking career by captaining Australia in the Four Nations final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on November 13.

His first commitment will be the trans-Tasman Test in Melbourne on May 7 with Australian coach Tim Sheens and Meninga instrumental in giving Lockyer the final impetus to stick with representative football.

"A lot of people close to me wanted me to play another year," Lockyer said.

"I guess a lot of them never had a chance to say goodbye last year (with the Australian team in England).

"Obviously talking to Mal, he was keen to have me around and I also spoke to Tim a couple of times and they were both very positive."

Meninga admitted he would have been disappointed if Lockyer had retired from representative football when veteran props Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva had committed to another campaign.

"Darren, Steve and Petero have been the three cornerstones of the team in recent times and it would be a fantastic way for all of them to go out if we could win another title," Meninga said.

"It certainly will be a motivating force and their experience in camp will be invaluable.

"You're a long time retired and I'm delighted with Locky's decision. It's good in a way that he has been a little bit selfish and I hope he goes out a winner."

Meninga conceded Lockyer had not been at his best for the Broncos.

"He's trying hard, but it's difficult for him given the way the team is going," he said.

"I don't think Darren has been in this situation before with the club in a rebuilding stage, and he would be trying to maintain the club's culture of success.

"Because of that he's probably not getting the recognition he deserves on the field.

"But in rep footy he will be a shining light because he will only have to worry about his own job. It will take the burden from his shoulders for a little while and he will go back to the Broncos revitalised."

With assistant coach Neil Henry having stood down to concentrate on his duties with the Cowboys, Lockyer's experience and tactical nous will be a bonus.

Henry said yesterday that there was no better person to have in an Origin environment.

Martinez charged with improper conduct

Roberto Martinez, the Wigan Athletic shirts manager, has been charged with improper conduct after he accused referee Stuart Attwell of 'lying'.

The FA have confirmed the Spaniard will face punishment for comments made in the wake of the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City as the game turned on the second-half dismissal of Gary Caldwell.

The Scotland international defender was sent off in the 56th minute, while the score was 0-0, for a challenge on Carlos Tevez. The Argentina international then went on to score a 12-minute hat-trick as City eased to victory against ten men.

Martinez lambasted Attwell, the Premier League's youngest referee, for making the decision despite not being able to see the tackle properly. "I cannot understand how you can give something you can't see," he said after the match. "To give a red card you have to be certain.

"Gary said he went in really strong and got the ball. Carlos Tevez saw it and jumped off the ground, he is the one who left both feet in.

"We are all human beings and we all make mistakes but to give a decision after something you don't see, that is lying. You are making it up. That is hard to take. He [the referee] said he saw Gary Caldwell with both feet off the ground. That's why he gave the red card. But Gary Caldwell only went with one foot. That is a real injustice."

The FA wrote to Martinez asking him to explain his comments and have now issued an improper conduct charge.