Graham Lowe: Something beginning with Sea

The much-anticipated 2006 NRL competition kicks off this weekend, and in true league fashion it's bound to have plenty of action, skill and (if history is anything to go by) probably something completely out of the ordinary.

Over the years, the 13-man game has always had a range of colourful characters.

More than a few, by my reckoning, appeared to push the bounds of sanity to the limit while managing to find new ways to create headlines and controversy.

For die-hard observers, the sport is always full of surprises, and from where I sit 2006 looks no different.

I reckon it's this unpredictability that keeps fans interested in, and passionate about, the game.

I was reminded of this during the week when I reflected upon one of the most colourful league characters, former Bulldogs front-rower and hardman Peter Kelly.

Probably his most infamous moment on the field was in 1984 at the Sydney Cricket Ground when the Bulldogs were playing South Sydney in the annual Anzac Day fixture to honour the old soldiers.

The atmosphere was highly charged as a solitary Army bugler played the Last Post out on the halfway line.

The game was quickly under way with a Dogs kick-off, and what appeared to be a solid kick return by a Rabbitoh forward.

Whether the occasion got to Kelly or he felt that an early and spectacular impact on the game was called for, only he would know. But his first tackle on the ball-carrier was a classic Carlaw Park coat-hanger which connected squarely around eyebrow level, knocking the poor bloke into the middle of the following week.

What transpired was the extraordinary sight of Kelly actually beating the bugler back to the grandstand after being ordered off by referee Mick Stone.

Now that's unpredictability in the extreme and an example of league at its rawest.

Funny thing was that Bulldogs president Barry (Punchy) Nelson had only just got to his seat in the members' stand when he saw his front-rower running back down the players' tunnel.

Not having had time to see what had happened he quickly yelled to some of his committee members to rush to the dressing room because Kelly must have forgotten his mouth guard. Such were the days.

No one can say what's in store this year, but no doubt it will be exciting and compelling viewing. You have only to consider that the season hasn't even started yet but it has still managed to grab the headlines for the past two weeks from the other code and a send-em-to-sleep cricket tour going on around the country.

The Warriors' season launch on Tuesday gave me more than a little confidence for the season, despite the week's events which will see the Auckland club giving all the others a start of Cardigan Bay proportions. There was a real energy about the occasion, combined with a healthy degree of honesty, and quiet confidence. The impression I got from captain Steve Price, coach Ivan Cleary and a realistic management team was that they had put the 4feit of points behind them.

But it will still be the strangest start to a season any of them have been through.

The best comparison is probably with a heavyweight boxer being told he's fighting 15 rounds for the world title, but no matter how well he goes, he can't win the first two rounds. What does he do? Dance and stay out of trouble, or dig in and try to get some momentum, attitude and rhythm going from the start?

The boxer must begin the process of winning from the very first bell and build on it from there.

On Sunday, the Warriors have to be thinking about not just two points against the Storm, but the 28 points which represent the playoffs.

That's not to say they should get too far ahead of themselves. Coaches tend to think in bite-sized chunks. So Cleary will likely be looking ahead initially only to the first three games (all in New Zealand, although only one is officially a home game).

After those first three games they go to Newcastle to take on the Knights before coming home to face Manly. I think if they are on the table after those five games with two points or more it will be an outstanding achievement and their momentum will take some stopping.

I'm very confident this club has re-invented itself with a new work ethic and direction and will indeed be well on the way come round six.

There's another interesting aspect to all this - competition points may disappear into the ether, but points for and against will definitely not. So performance in every round will be vital, as previous years have clearly demonstrated the closeness of this competition.

I also predict that more than ever, 2006 will focus the spotlight on the referees. It's heartening to hear, therefore, that the whistlers will run out this weekend fitter, and probably sharper than ever before.

I'LL stick my neck out and say the Warriors will make the semifinals but not the top four. But once they are there this club will be on a roll that could prove unstoppable.

I doubt the Tigers will do it again but we will see a lot more clubs playing their style of last season and it will be exciting.

The Broncos also look like big improvers and if Sonny Bill Williams can get plenty of playing time the Bulldogs will be a threat.

But the club I think will spring the biggest surprise is Manly. They pinched Matt Orford and Steve Bell from the Storm and coach Des Hasler has done a great job in developing this team. A good bet for the premiership could be the Sea Eagles to just hold off the Cowboys.