Graham Lowe: I agree with Hansen and league is becoming boring as well

Chad Townsend along with Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai and Sam Tomkins provide the 'X Factor' for the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, has been quoted as saying a couple of weeks back that rugby was becoming boring, because of the over emphasis of defence. I agree with him, but also think rugby league is facing a similar dilemma, and it's becoming too easy to read.

I want to see the unpredictability of the contest return.

I have picked the Warriors to finish in the top four this season and I even think they could win the competition, but they need to be unpredictable. Before you ask, no, I don't have any magic mushrooms helping my thinking.

I base it solely on four players who, given the opportunity, are anything but predictable. They carry the X Factor.

On television, the 'X Factor' show, created a bit of controversy in recent weeks, apparently, because one of the judges was deemed to be cruel and rude with her comments. Personally, I think she'd frighten a police horse, what a dragon.

But from what I understand, judges on that type of show require little if any credibility and I don't understand why people even watch them.

However, Kiwi sporting fans are great judges of sporting talent.

And most fans, and keen NRL judges, seem to agree the Manly half back and five-eighth duo of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, are the best halves combination in the NRL.

It's a shame they won't be there at Manly next season.

However, I think the Warriors have four players, who are the Manly duo's equal any day.

Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Thomas Leuluai and Sam Tomkins between them, and in any mix, could be more than a match for Cherry-Evans and Foran. Or for that matter, any halves combination in the NRL.

Obviously at the moment the Warriors are using Johnson and Townsend as their halves, but what I'm saying is that there are other options available for the coach Andrew McFadden to choose from.

I do agree with those who say consistency is a concern, it is, but the bare bones of the 'X Factor' are there for all to see.

Johnson, in particular, is the focus of much head scratching because of his inconsistency. His game in the Four Nations Final last year was nothing short of sensational and he has set his own benchmark very high. This is good, but it also adds to the burden of responsibility on his shoulders.

Townsend is growing as a player by the week and has an all-round game that is very under-estimated. His combination with Johnson can, and should, be dynamite.

Leuluai is an absolute professional in everything he does. He's used mainly it seems, as dummy half now, and while he does very well there, given the opportunity a little wider, he's one of the most creative players the Warriors have.

And Tomkins, after a shaky start last year, is proving to be a game changer.

And this is what these little blokes with the 'X Factor' need to do, change the direction of the game when it needs to be done.

The Warriors do have a bit of future work to do recruiting a few class players in certain positions, but in the meantime, these four little blokes are going to cause plenty of game changing moments between them.

I don't know if Tomkins has ever played in the halves, but whether he has or hasn't, isn't a concern to my way of thinking. He's a good football player and could adapt to any position, and in this era of some players not even knowing what the other side of the field looks like, he is outstanding with his vision, speed and anticipation.

I think he may even be more effective in a position where he is likely to get his hands on the ball more often than he does at fullback.

And the other three have similar qualities.

But because of the structured left and right positional play that most teams are obsessed with, we are seeing an era of player abilities being shackled, in both defence and attack.

Those in favour of this deployment argue it puts in place a more effective and efficient use of positions. I agree to a certain point, but also point out, there are exceptions. One negative resulting from the fashionable use of left and right positional play is predictability.

Teams are much easier to read now, more so than ever before in the history of the game. And I'm talking rugby and league.

Dare I say it; I agree with 'Shag', it can be boring to watch.

So that is why the four little blokes are so important. They are inventive, smart, gifted and unpredictable.

A majority of the Warriors wins this year will be on the back of any one, or all of these four X Factor players, betcha!

But in the meantime, I think the Warriors coach will have his players trying to answer a few stern questions about the manner in which they fell away from Parramatta in the second half on Saturday.

After a blistering start with all the ball, they certainly seemed down in the enthusiasm department after half time. The Broncos will have noticed that as well.

But what I am looking for next week against the Broncos is the effect the four' X Factor' players wearing Warriors jerseys have on the outcome of the game.

Between them they can cause the unpredictability to disrupt the Brisbane game plan.

The Broncos have lacked that 'X Factor' player since Darren Lockyer retired from the game a few years ago now.