NRL: Locke aims to improve

Kevin Locke has been in the action. Photo / Getty Images

Kevin Locke has endured an unforgettable couple of months. First he dealt with police over a sexual assault complaint concerning an incident in his car in central Auckland. No charges have yet been laid.

Next he was caught in the Albany tornado, witnessing the death of a man in its aftermath. Then the Warriors exercised a one-year option on his contract, giving him job security until the end of the 2012 season. Now he has his coveted fullback position and is in strong form as the Warriors have worked their way into the top eight.

However, the path ahead is far from unencumbered. Lance Hohaia might be off to St Helens at the end of the season but the highly promising Glen Fisiiahi has recovered from ankle and knee damage and is back with the Auckland Vulcans.

It has been a lot for Locke to handle. The 22-year-old admits the spotlight has troubled him since he made his first grade debut with two tries to beat the Tigers just over two years ago.

Locke has modelled undies for photoshoots and done the splits between bar stools late at night but gives the impression those days are numbered. The pressure is now on to hold a place he once earned on natural ability.

"That first year, the celebrity aspect of the job got to me a wee bit, but I'm working hard to ignore it because it gets to people," he says. "Being a young bloke who hadn't experienced that sort of stuff much before, I tried not to worry about it - but it changes your life."

Take the scene after the twister in the Albany car park: "Other people were helping out more than I was," Locke says. "But being in this [the Warriors] environment, the media took notice of me rather than the people doing the most work, like the guy helping the poor fella who had passed away."

The NRL lists Locke's weight at 82kg which seems ambitious when you observe his slight frame in person.

It highlights a quality Locke possesses that will continue to rescue him in times of adversity: courage.

That was evident last year against the Roosters in Christchurch where Locke's dive for a try - he smashed his hip into the goalpost at full speed - won them the game.

When Locke tackles a prop or second-rower, it personifies the big hearts of league's little men.

"It does get scary tackling second-rowers but that's what you're there for. I've recently spent time working on my defence close to the line, distributing the ball quicker to the wings and centres and sometimes trying to work as another half."

Locke has now played four straight matches at fullback and is making his mark. Up until this weekend Locke (as a fullback) had the second-best kick return metres per game (90.7m), the second-most average tackles (7.7) and the fourth-most metres per game (161m).

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary sees fullback as Locke's natural position but acknowledges Fisiiahi is putting up a good case.

"Kevin came through the grades as a fullback but the difference is his work ethic has gone to a new level this year. He probably relied on talent too much in the past cruising through the development levels.

"When he came on the scene, he was everybody's favourite. For a young guy with all that attention it can be hard to deal with, but having Fish [Fisiiahi] behind him made him realise he had to work.

"He was disappointed when he was relegated to the Vulcans earlier this year but never put his head down, which he hasn't always done in the past."

"I realise Glen and me are fighting out for the spot long-term," Locke says.

"One of us is likely to spend more time back on the wing but we talk about it and I'm willing to offer him what I've learnt while trying to keep him out.

Cleary says Locke needs to be wary of Fisiiahi's rise: "He was outstanding at under-20 level and is a bit of a different character to Nobby [Locke].

"He's more intense, knows where he wants to be, critiques his own game quite accurately and had a terrific first grade start until he got injured."