BIG Sam Thaiday rocks back with laughter when asked about his role as retiring Kangaroo captain Darren Lockyer’s bodyguard for the past two years.
Just as quickly, the likeable Kangaroos back-rower turns deadly serious on the prospect of Kiwi Test enforcer Jeremy Smith aiming a New Zealand barrage at Darren Lockyer during his final Test on home soil this Sunday.
“I’m kind of like Kevin Costner and he’s my Whitney. That’s fine, I quite enjoy the role,” Sam Thaiday said.
“We both make each other look good, I help him out in defence and he helps me out in attack.
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“Every game they try and send their biggest blokes on the field at him and he does handle them all right, but it’s always good to have a mate help you out and a lot of the time that mate is me.
“Any player in their team over 100kg will be heading Locky’s way.
“I’m sure they’re going to send a lot of traffic our way so I’ll have to make sure I’ve got my shoulders warm because I’m sure I’ll be making a lot of tackles and being part of a lot of tackles as well.”
Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney named a well-rounded New Zealand side including five Test debutants yesterday, with Test enforcer Smith and 105kg back-rower Sika Manu expected to target Lockyer in his farewell appearance in Australia.
Australian back-rower Thaiday inherited the role of Lockyer’s bodyguard at the Broncos at end of the 2009 season, when the original ‘bodyguard’ Tonie Carroll retired.
Since then, Thaiday has filled the role for Brisbane, Queensland and Australia for the past two years.
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“It’s been a great time playing footy with Locky.
“I’m sure I’ll sit down with my grandkids one day and tell them I played with Darren Lockyer and they probably won’t believe me,” Thaiday said.
