Darren Lockyer retreated to his holiday hideaway on the New South Wales Tweed Coast to thrash out the career decision that was giving him sleepless nights.

The Australian and Queensland captain admitted on Tuesday the agonising he did before deciding to commit to one last season of representative rugby league made life difficult for those around him.

“I know my wife (Loren) is happy I’ve finally made a decision because I really have been a different person at home,” said Lockyer.

“I’m a deep thinker. I wasn’t sleeping all that well so I’m actually quite relieved to be honest to have made a decision.”

Under pressure to meet the Australian Rugby League’s deadline, Lockyer flew straight to his holiday home after Brisbane’s disappointing 25-6 Good Friday loss to the Roosters to join his pregnant wife Loren and thrash out his decision.

At that stage he admitted he was ready to call it quits.

“The loss to the Roosters was weighing me down; three losses in a row, the Broncos on the bottom of the table … it was probably not the right day to make such a big decision which is why I gave myself Sunday and Monday to think it through,” he said.

After talking with Loren and receiving encouragement from Australian coach Tim Sheens, Queensland coach Mal Meninga and some close friends, Lockyer decided his representative fire still burned strongly enough and he was confident he could play representative football and still give his battling Broncos his best.

“The last two weeks have been really difficult because I hadn’t made my mind up,” Lockyer said.

“On Saturday morning I was speaking to my wife and that was pretty much it.

“I just felt I’d rather focus on the Broncos and not worry about the pressures of everything else.

“(But) … The dust settled and I thought long and hard about it and I know I would have regretted a decision to retire from rep football more than deciding to play on.

“A lot of people close to me all wanted me to play another year, I guess a lot them never really had a chance to say goodbye.

“Talking to Mal, he was always saying he was keen to have me around, and I also spoke to Tim Sheens a couple of times who was very positive.”

Queensland half-back Johnathan Thurston rated Lockyer the best he has ever played with and welcomed his decision to continue.

“He’s our captain, he’s our leader on the field and off the field and you certainly need that guidance when you’re on the field and under the pump,” he said.

High praise

Lockyer revealed he first feared his representative career was coming to an end last August after Brisbane were embarrassed by Canberra.

“There was a moment last year after we were beaten 56-0 by Canberra I just felt that the Origin series took its toll on the Broncos and took its toll on me and I just felt that was going to be my last,” he said.

“But I thought I should take my time making my decision and I know now I would have more regrets had I gone the other way.”

Meninga had no doubt Lockyer had made the right choice and had more to offer as he seeks to continue his 50-Test, 30-Origin rep career into a 14th season.

“The Broncos are going through a tough period and he is the leader of that club and he feels an enormous burden on his shoulders,” Meninga said.

“But Gordie Tallis got it right – Darren Lockyer doesn’t owe anybody anything.

“I think he’s done the right thing, he’s not ready to retire just yet.

“The reason why Darren Lockyer is so successful is because he is very honest.

“Any past player can tell you that you know when your time is up mentally and physically and when it’s time to hang up the boots. Darren hasn’t found that yet.”

Meninga said Lockyer had a pivotal role in Queensland’s Origin history.

“Darren is the conduit from yesteryear to the future,” he said.

“I keep telling him (Lockyer) he’s an important bridge between us older blokes and the younger blokes.

“He’s got a passion for the maroon jersey, he understands it’s culture and the expectations that go with wearing it.

“I’m kind of hoping he is going to leave his legacy on Origin footy for a long time to come.”

Queensland believes it is well equipped to cope with life after Darren Lockyer when the star five-eighth calls time on his representative career.

Lockyer, 33, will announce at a Tuesday morning press conference whether he will make himself available or drop the curtain on one of the most decorated representative careers in rugby league history.

The signs point to Lockyer retiring from Test and Origin football to focus solely on his young Brisbane team, which is in unfamiliar territory in last place on the NRL ladder.

While not willing to second guess Lockyer, Queensland selection chairman Des Morris indicated the succession plan was well advanced.

“We all knew this day was coming and we’re fortunate to have some very good players in Johnathan Thurston, Scott Prince and Cooper Cronk to ease to pain,” Morris said.

“Darren is one of those rare players like Wally Lewis who can find a way to get the team over the line.

“If he decides not to go around we will certainly miss that factor but we’re lucky to have some very good players coming through and we should be able to cover most of the things he does.”

Lockyer has played 50 Tests, a record 29 as captain, and 30 State-of-Origin matches for Queensland, half of them as captain, for five series wins over New South Wales.

He was also involved in drawn series in 1999 and 2002.

No farewell game

If Lockyer quits, Queensland must find another number six and another skipper – a very similar scenario to when Lewis retired in 1991.

While Lewis’ retirement was announced to a 33,226-strong Lang Park crowd when the Maroons dug deep to win the series-decider 14-12 in 1991, Lockyer will not get a farewell game unless he is prompted into a goodbye appearance in next month’s Test against New Zealand in Melbourne.

However, Lockyer is on record as saying he does not need a “farewell tour” and it is likely he will just make a clean break, unlike Andrew Johns and Ben Kennedy who were afforded a farewell Test in 2006 but excused from Origin duty.

Morris, also a Test selector, says Lockyer’s uncanny ability to pull a game from the fire means he will undoubtedly be missed.

“Thurston is a match winner, no doubt, but if you go back and look at the number of times Darren has scored the last try or set up the last try for Australian and for Queensland, you’d be amazed,” said Morris.

“He’s done it time and time again. He’s just a rare talent the likes we may not see again for quite some time.”

Morris has no hesitation in putting Lockyer in the same class as Lewis.

“I think he is up there with Wally as a player and a leader,” he said.

“They’re were two totally different types of players and I wouldn’t compare one against the other.

“Wally could take a game by the scruff of the neck when he needed and make things happen while Darren could do the same in a more subtle way with the same result.

“They’re very far and few between.

“In five years we may be talking about Thurston the same way but Lockyer’s done it for well over a decade at the highest level.

“I don’t know what people expect but I don’t think you can ask any more of him.”

Queensland coach and Origin icon Mal Meninga has spoken to Lockyer and passed on his thoughts but Morris says there is no pressure coming from him or selectors.

“It’s just a decision for him,” Morris said.