He may have undergone wrist surgery but Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer still hopes to use his new-found Midas touch in the upcoming World Club Challenge.

Lockyer revealed a wrist injury suffered way back in August was found to be worse than first thought when he went under the knife in Brisbane on Monday night.

However, the Test skipper confirmed he would still play for Brisbane in its World Club Challenge clash against English champions St Helens at Bolton on February 23.

The Golden Boot winner suffered the injury in a round 23 clash against ladder leader Melbourne - the game credited with arming Brisbane with the belief it could go on to win a sixth premiership.

He went on to play three more premiership games, four finals and then five Tests for Australia in a stellar season.

Lockyer won every tournament he contested in 2006 - enjoying Origin success with Queensland, an NRL trophy with Brisbane and a Tri Nations title with Australia.

He even led Queensland to victory at last weekend's Beach Footy tournament in Sydney.

Broncos boss Bruno Cullen put Lockyer's remarkable season down to "the realisation that he was a leader".

"It was a watershed year for him," Cullen told AAP.

"I'm close to him and I just thought that he tried to lead a bit like Alf (Allan Langer) in the past - Alf didn't say too much but led by example.

"Darren did the same thing and was on the quiet side away from the playing field.

"But this year he became a leader both on and off the field. He became a symbol in the club rather than just the captain on the field."

Far from satisfied, Lockyer is focussed on WCC success despite only emerging from hospital.

"No doubt I will one day look back on 2006 and marvel at what happened, but at the moment I am concentrating on resting up, getting this wrist right and enjoying my time away from footy," he said.

"But I must admit, at the back of my mind is the World Club Challenge in February.

"I reckon that trophy would complete a fantastic 12 months for everyone at the Broncos."

Lockyer's desire to play the WCC showdown has been fuelled by the last time Brisbane met the English Super League heavyweights.

Brisbane lost 20-18 to St Helens in the 2001 WCC.

Lockyer showed no sign of the wrist injury during an incredible run capped by scoring the winning try in extra time against New Zealand in the Tri Nations final on November 25.

"Although it troubled me at times, the injury was more a nuisance than anything else," Lockyer said.

"As it turned out, when the surgeon went in last night he found the wrist was a little more damaged than first thought, so it was obviously the correct decision to have the operation."

Lockyer will wear a plastic cast for the next month before beginning rehabilitation.

The Broncos' Tri Nations contingent of Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday and Tame Tupou will begin pre-season training on January 15.

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