Graham Lowe: Stacey could play in a dinner suit

Filled to the gunnels on a sunny Sunday afternoon, Manly's Brookvale Oval has a rich history of turning on the league heroics.

As the coach of a high-flying Manly outfit in the 1990s, I was privileged to work with such great players as Michael O'Connor, Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Cliff Lyons, Matthew Ridge and Ian Roberts.

They were consistently stars in a fierce competition, and the crowds loved the skills they showed every time they put on the famous jersey.

Brookvale has always had an intoxicating atmosphere for me, largely because of my personal connection. But last Sunday, from my sofa, I watched in awe as this smallish suburban Sydney field became the centrepiece for something special in league folklore.

A small man in a No 14 jersey confirmed his place - in my mind at least - as the greatest New Zealand league player in the modern era.

Any doubts this was the case were cast aside by 20 minutes of brilliance from Stacey Jones.

There's not much that hasn't been said about Jones. But on Sunday he found yet another level for yet another heroic match-winning performance to decide a thrilling 80 minutes.

Three-and-a-half years away from the NRL, and a year-and-a-half since he last played football, Jones created the opportunities for the Warriors to beat the competition's premier side and then handed them gift-wrapped to his teammates.

Some compared the performance to that of Queensland's Alfie Langer who returned from England to inspire his side to a State of Origin series victory in the decider against New South Wales in 2001. But Langer was playing regular Super League football for Warrington at the time.

Most of Jones' energy in the past 18 months has been spent filleting the fish caught in his tin dinghy.

Jones' display against Manly, even when measured against a catalogue of his league genius over the years, was an absolute standout.

With the Warriors under the cosh, down 24-18 and 49 minutes still on the clock, Jones entered the game, substituting for Ian Henderson. If there was doubt in the 16,000 spectators' minds about the wisdom of a 33-year-old stepping back into the NRL, imagine how the man himself must have felt.

Stacey's first contribution was to help dispatch Manly hooker Heath L'Estrange across the sideline from a penalty restart.

Having won the ball back for his side, his next telling play was to launch a breathtaking 20m dart to the line, off-loading to Nathan Fein who did everything but score.

Then, from 62m out, the Warriors star showed this was no return for sentimentality's sake. He popped a kick over the heads of an advancing Sea Eagles line, regathered and sent the defence into disarray.

With McKinnon running to his left, Jones dummied, veered right and dummied again before giving Brent Tate a run to the line.

The finishing thrust was a kick to the left-hand corner, where a leaping Manu Vatuvei palmed the ball back for Jerome Ropati to score.

Game, set and match for the little guy.

I can remember watching great players from the mid-1950s on: Tommy Baxter, Cyril Eastlake, Ron Ackland, Roger Bailey and the man I rated the best I have ever coached, Mark Graham.

But none ever put a lump in the throat like Stacey Jones. And to go with it, I doubt there has ever been a more modest or humble footballer and a more pleasant human being.

He is not just loved but revered at Mt Smart Stadium and his return will pay big dividends for the Warriors on Saturday - on the field and at the turnstiles.

I rate him the best because none of the others could match him for influence on a game. He is one of those players the commentators say could play in a dinner suit - at times he appears to be at a different level than the others on the park. And like the greatest, you always know what they might do, but there's bugger all you can do to stop it happening.

The Warriors certainly look the complete package with Stacey behind the scrum. Opposing sides are going to have to factor in his presence - Des Hasler said as much after Sunday's game.

And when Lance Hohaia returns, the Warriors' strike weapons will be formidable - almost unstoppable.

Sunday's win confirmed the growing maturity of the side. In the heat, and against a Manly side stung in the first round, it would have been easy to capitulate.

But there's no doubt Ivan Cleary has instilled a real belief in his team, and that's a critical factor in a long, hard season.

The NRL has reached new heights this year. The football has been hard, fast and very close.

As an initial sceptic, I am now firmly convinced of the merits of the dual-referee system and I'm relishing the entertainment.

As the great commentator Ray Warren said to Phil Gould after he had switched off his microphone on Sunday: "Can you believe we get paid for doing this?"