NRL 2021: Broncos chairman Karl Morris throws support behind besieged board member Darren Lockyer

Heads are rolling at the strife-torn Broncos and the calls are growing for club legend Darren Lockyer to join the exodus. But are Brisbane likely to make him expendable?

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NCA NewsWire Photos AUGUST 12, 2020. Brisbane Broncos legend Darren Lockyer speaks during a showcase event at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Brisbane chairman Karl Morris has hit out at calls for club legend Darren Lockyer to be axed from the board as the Broncos look to beef-up their governance to haul the glamour club out of the NRL cellar.

News Corp can reveal the bloodletting at Red Hill will not extend to the board, with Lockyer to survive a club-wide review as the Broncos move to add two new faces to their executive arm.

New chief executive Dave Donaghy sacked two staffers on Friday, head of football Peter Nolan and high-performance chief Andrew Croll, and Morris concedes more heads could roll in the wake of Brisbane‘s latest season of disaster.

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Darren Lockyer has come under fire as the Broncos continue to struggle.

But the axe will not fall on Lockyer, who has been subjected to fierce criticism, even from Broncos fans, over his contribution to Brisbane‘s board and their recruitment-and-retention committee.

Lockyer is the greatest servant in Broncos history, playing a record 355 games for the club, but the former skipper has come under fire for being part of the Broncos board that rubber-stamped a five-year deal for former coach Anthony Seibold.

Lockyer is also a respected voice on the Brisbane panel which hires and fires players, with the committee having bungled several contracts, losing David Fifita, Reece Walsh and Xavier Coates in the past 12 months.

But Morris hit back at suggestions premiership-winning icon and future NRL Immortal Lockyer should be part of the Broncos cleanout.

“Locky is safe,” Morris said.

Lockyer holds a special place at the Broncos.

“Look, he is staying on board, absolutely.

“Unless he wants to leave, that‘s up to him, but Darren brings a lot of football intelligence to the board and we are looking at a few more people to add to the board.

“I have interviewed a few potential board candidates and we will look to bolster our board in the coming weeks and months.”

The Broncos currently have a five-person board following the departure of long-serving Brisbane Markets king Tony Joseph.

Brisbane are keen to extend that number to seven with two impending appointments to join Morris, Lockyer, Kevin Lawlor, Neil Monaghan and Australian netball legend Vicki Wilson..

Lockyer led the Broncos to their last premiership success in 2006.

Lockyer provides the football intelligence on Brisbane‘s multi-faceted board and the former Broncos skipper recently told News Corp he is determined to help rebuild the ailing powerhouse

“I am committed,” said Lockyer, who captained the Broncos to their most recent premiership in 2006.

“I’ve always been about what’s best for the team. That’s always been the motto at the club. I am there as part of an overall team, I’m there to play my part.

“I do enjoy my role.

“It‘s been difficult for everyone at the club.

“From a board perspective we want to do what we can and provide the support for the executive team, coaching staff and players.

“We want to put as many support mechanisms as we can around the players and coaches so they’re set up for success.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Broncos chairman Karl Morris throws support behind besieged board member Darren Lockyer