He switched positions to five-eighth in 2004 and went on to win a fourth grand final with the Broncos, a further five State of Origin series with Queensland, and a second Golden Boot Award.

Travelling commitments and a lack of Australian rules football clubs around the Wandoan area forced him to quit the game and take up rugby league.

[11][12] Lockyer made his professional first-grade debut with the Brisbane Broncos from the bench as an eighteen-year-old five-eighth in a 60–14 thrashing of the Parramatta Eels in Round 13 of the 1995 ARL season.

At the end of the 1997 season Lockyer made his international debut when he was selected to play at fullback for Australia in all three games of the Super League Test series against Great Britain in England.

In the re-unified 1998 NRL season, Lockyer was selected as the Queensland team's fullback and goal-kicker for all three games of their successful 1998 State of Origin series, in which he was the top point-scorer.

[16] His debut game was shocking, making some poor mistakes which led to a 22–16 New Zealand win and the departure of long-time Australian coach Bob Fulton.

He was again top point-scorer for Brisbane that year, smashing the club record of 193 for most points in a season by scoring 272, coming from a career high 19 tries and 90 goals.

Brisbane came into the finals on a 12 game unbeaten streak (11 wins, 1 draw versus Balmain), but were stunned 15–10 against Parramatta in the Major Semi, thrusting them into sudden death football.

Lockyer started at fullback against the Canterbury Bulldogs, who had qualified despite finishing the regular season in 9th place, and helped the Broncos dismantle them 38–12 to secure the club's 4th premiership.

Brisbane were drawn the tough task of minor premiers Cronulla in the first week of the finals, and the Sharks gained revenge for 1997 with a 42–20 win to end the Broncos season.

In March 2001, Lockyer was approached by the Australian Football League club Essendon regarding an unprecedented switch of codes, and was offered a contract subsequent to a successful trial.

[23] Later in 2001, following Queensland captain Gorden Tallis' season-ending neck injury before the second game of the 2001 State of Origin series, the Maroons' captaincy was handed to Lockyer.

They bounced back against the St George Illawarra Dragons to the tune of 44–28, a game which set the record for highest scoring match in NRL Finals history, before their season came to an end with a 24–16 loss to the minor premiers Parramatta.

Brisbane spent almost the entire 2002 season in the Top 4, finishing in 3rd place, as Lockyer, along with Lote Tuquiri and Chris Walker, led the team in tryscoring.

For the 2004 Brisbane Broncos season, after the retirement of Ben Ikin, coach Wayne Bennett moved Lockyer, then established as the world's best fullback, to the five-eighth position where he would get more opportunities with the ball in hand.

Lockyer gained some negative media attention at the start of the 2004 NRL season when he made a careless joke about the Bulldogs' gang rape allegation at a Queensland sports function.

[28] Brisbane again had a great regular season, finishing 3rd, but a 31–14 loss to Melbourne and former assistant coach Craig Bellamy in the qualifying final thrust them into sudden death footy once again.

[citation needed] He traveled with the Australian national team to Europe for the 2005 Tri-Nations but injured his foot at training and missed the last few games of the tournament,[30] including Australia's stunning 24–0 loss to New Zealand in the final.

[37] Lockyer injured his ankle again in Round 9 against the Sharks but he recovered in time to play in Game I of the 2007 State of Origin series and defeat the New South Wales Blues.

Despite Lockyer was at the time contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2009[38] when he admitted he that he was interested in playing in the Super League after watching the 2007 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.

[39] On 27 October 2007, Lockyer married Loren Pollock, his girlfriend of three years, coincidentally on the same day his immediate predecessor as Australian Test captain, Andrew Johns also tied the knot.

Lockyer returned to full health after Round 18 and helped Brisbane secure 5th on the ladder, and a 24–16 win over Sydney in the qualifying final gave hope that the Lockyer-inspired run of form would continue through September.

In Round 8, Lockyer played his 300th first grade game, although the occasion was soured by a 28–12 loss to Newcastle during which a section of EnergyAustralia Stadium was left without power at half time.

Returning to the Queensland side after a 1 year absence, Lockyer resumed his role as captain and led the Maroons to a record 4th consecutive series victory.

Brisbane dominated the minor premiers and advanced to the Preliminary Final with a 24–10 win, but the result was soured by a fractured ankle suffered by Lockyer's halves partner Peter Wallace.

Lockyer was selected in Game I of the 2011 State of Origin series at five-eighth and as captain, making 34th appearance for Queensland, equalling the all-time record of Allan Langer.

[citation needed] In Round 22, on 7 August, Lockyer played his all-time record-equalling 349th club game against the New Zealand Warriors at home, Suncorp Stadium.

The following Friday, on 12 August, Lockyer officially broke the record for most NRL games played at 350 with a win over the North Queensland Cowboys in front of a capacity crowd Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Lockyer underwent surgery to repair the cheekbone and tried everything to ensure he played the Preliminary Final- even flying from Brisbane to Sydney by helicopter so he could stay at a low altitude.

[61] Lockyer currently serves as Head of Business Affairs at Mayur Resources, a Brisbane-based energy and minerals company with activities in Papua New Guinea.