to play at fullback for Australia in all three games of the Super League Test series against Great Britain in England. He kicked two goals and one field goal during the series, which was won by Australia. Unfortunately, these matches do not count towards his official representative statistics as the IRLF refused to validate Super League internationals as test matches, even though the NRL recognises Super League matches as official first grade appearances. 1998 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. Lockyer also made his debut for the Australian team against New Zealand, becoming Kangaroo No. 661. 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. By this time, Lockyer's playing style in attack was already being likened to that of a five-eighth. Despite the competition being unified and ARL powerhouses Newcastle Knights, Sydney City Roosters and Parramatta Eels as well as competition debutants Melbourne Storm having chances to dethrone them, Brisbane finished the season on top of the table, tied record wise with Newcastle but with a nearly 200 point advantage in point differential thanks to a host of big wins, 3 by more than 50 points, as well as a stoic defence which did not concede more than 28 points across both the regular season and finals. 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 scored his first finals try in the loss, and continued his rich tryscoring form with another in a 30-6 win over Melbourne, before he scored a spectacular hat trick in a 46-18 win over the Roosters to help Brisbane secure second consecutive Grand Final berth. 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. His