Is Gillett the man for Locky's no.6?

Is Lockyer's retirement a blessing?

When Thierry Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007, he felt he was leaving for the good of the London side because his seniority had become a hindrance. The crux of the matter was that teammates would pass to him automatically, out of deference to his stature within the club and team, regardless of whether he was in the best position or not. He was getting in the way of Arsenal's progress.

Is such a scenario applicable to the Broncos, now that Lockyer has played his last for the club? Lockyer definitely did not have the ego of Henry, but at the same time, one player being such a focal point both on and off the pitch is bound to affect the capacity of other players to take responsibility, and perhaps affect their confidence as well.

Anthony Griffin and fans will be hoping that, with their former messiah out the way, the young stars at the club will mature into decision-makers, calm under pressure and comfortable with responsibility.

Will the senior players step up?

That means Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and Justin Hodges. Then there is the interesting case of Peter Wallace. Perhaps under-sung during Brisbane's excellent 2011, the former Origin halfback may be another to benefit from the fact his team are relying on him all the more. There are certainly few more reliable no.7s in the NRL; Wallace is a player with heart and universally regarded as a pleasant bloke. His success would be a nice story.

The prospect of Petero Civoniceva back in a Broncos shirt will delight the hearts of many, but there is reason to be wary. He is certainly still a force as a player, with his yardage remaining the envy of props ten years younger. But 2012 will surely be his final season, meaning yet another year of emotional farewells and nostalgia – though not to anything like the degree of Lockyer's drawn-out adieu. This can either inspire a team, or drain them.

The best a man can get?

It takes some doing to stand out among Brisbane's crop of young players, but Matt Gillett, surely with Tariq Sims the most naturally gifted emerging player in the competition, is an overwhelmingly exciting prospect. This year will be his third season of first grade, and could well a see a major jump in his form and performance and, potentially, representative honours. He looks a good bet to take Lockyer's no.6 shirt at this point, with fellow young guns Corey Norman and Ben Hunt also in the race for the five-eighth spot.

Gillett, whose best position is still to be worked out, is a fearsome runner, a rugged tackler, a fine handler and an astute kicker. That means he would be a star in rugby union, suggesting Brisbane should do all they can to secure him long term.

Have they recruited shrewdly?

Off-season recruitment doesn't have to involve big-name signings to revitalise a club. Any player with personality can add zest to a club's dressing room. At least that's what Broncos fans will be hoping.

Civoniceva aside, the Broncos haven't exactly raised eyebrows in terms of new players. Luke Capewell, in from the Titans, may be a useful utility, but otherwise there isn't much new blood to look forward to.

That said, the retirement of Lockyer heralds a new era, a new style of play and a new culture. All that, combined with the fact this is one of the most tightly knit groups of players in the NRL, points to the Broncos having another season to remember.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.