By Julian Shea

Lockyer has two years left to run on his Brisbane contract

Australia captain Darren Lockyer says seeing Saturday's Challenge Cup final in the flesh makes him more interested than ever in playing in Super League.

The stand-off was at Wembley to see St Helens beat the Catalans Dragons and said it had whetted his appetite.

"How could you not enjoy the Cup final? I've seen plenty on television before but seeing one live makes you want to feel part of it," he told BBC Sport.

"Not just playing here but living in a different culture - it's appealing."

The 30-year-old reigning world player of the year has two years left to run on his contract at Brisbane Broncos, so there is no likelihood of any possible move to Super League happening in the short term.

At the moment, a more pressing priority is regaining fitness after suffering serious knee ligament damage playing for the Broncos in July.

"I've had a very good run, so this is my worst injury so far," he said.

They're closing the gap on New Zealand and Australia every time they come to these tournaments Darren Lockyer on England

"I've racked up a fair few games over the last decade, I guess my time was coming - you just hope now that you don't get too many more.

"After this, I'm with the Broncos two more seasons.

"It's a long process, but I'll be back for the start of next year. Having this break might even prolong my career as it's a rest I needed to have."

Lockyer was in London to promote next year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia, and found time during his visit to see St Helens retain the trophy.

He said the standard of their play rated as highly as anything in Australia.

"I've no doubt Saints would be very successful over there," he said.

"No matter how much talent you've got, it's very hard to keep being successful, which they do, so they must have a good culture there where success is bred into them. If they came to the NRL, I'm sure they would do very well."

Lockyer hopes for more success with Australia next year

Despite its reputation as the highest standard league in the world, in recent years few British players have accepted the challenge of playing down under, while plenty of Australians have come to England.

The reason, Lockyer says, is straight forward - money.

"The dollar is the reason a lot of the Aussies come over, that's just how it is," he said.

"If you were playing in Super League and wanted to go to Australia, your motivation would have to be the challenge, not money."

The next opportunity for England's finest to measure themselves against the best Australia has to offer will be at the 2008 World Cup, the first time the tournament has been contested since 2000.

In recent years, the Tri-Nations has been the unofficial world championship, with Australia winning it in 2006 and New Zealand in 2005.

But despite this, Lockyer said English fans have reason to be optimistic about their team's chances next year.

"Three years ago Great Britain made it to the final of the Tri Nations and everyone thought this was going to be their year, but it wasn't to be," he said.

"But I think they're closing the gap on New Zealand and Australia every time they come to these tournaments.

"The quality of Super League at the moment is very high, so the team England will bring is bound to be very competitive."