League: Lockyer's flaws under scrutiny

Stats say Darren Lockyer is an easy target without Tonie Carroll (L) and Justin Hodges (R) to back him up. Photo / Getty Images

New South Wales is set to target Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer in Origin II with new statistics again highlighting the champion five-eighth's defensive flaws since the retirement of his right-side bodyguard Tonie Carroll.

Figures provided by NRL Stats reveal Lockyer has missed 54 tackles in 12 NRL games this season.

But the big concern is that 26 of them - or almost half - have come in his last four games for the Broncos.

Those statistics get even worse with the missed tackle count blowing out to 33 in his last five games if you include the first Origin in Melbourne last month.

All up Lockyer has missed 65 tackles in 14 games in 2009 which includes the test against New Zealand.

The Bulldogs targeted his right hand side heavily last Friday night in their 44-22 win, with Lockyer coming up with seven missed tackles, including a bad defensive miss on opposite Ben Roberts which led to a key try.

Lockyer suffers when centre Justin Hodges is not on his right shoulder.

When Hodges limped off in the first Origin game in Melbourne, NSW piled on the points directing their attack down the Maroons right side.

It's no coincidence Brisbane have leaked more than 90 points in two games without Hodges - still a few weeks away from returning from a grade two hamstring tear - highlighting how important he is to helping Lockyer defensively.

When Carroll was Lockyer's bodyguard for Brisbane and Queensland players always thought twice about running at him for fear of being smashed by his minder.

It was the same when Peter Ryan looked after halfback Allan Langer when he was targeted by bigger runners.

- AAP