Graham Lowe: Time to break the mould of mediocrity

I can't wait for the NRL semifinals to kick-start what has been a pretty ordinary season.

For me, one of the major disappointments has been the performance of the much-vaunted Roosters, who have looked more like feather-dusters this year.

They have been one of the major flops of the season - but they are not on their own.

The Cowboys and Wests Tigers have been just as bad, while the Sharks can't buy a win.

The Warriors have performed better than any club not in the top eight. But that just tells me what an ordinary season it has been.

Contrary to what the NRL believes, I think the salary cap has a lot to answer for in the mediocrity we have seen. The NRL contends it delivers a level playing field. What's more accurate is a disappointing sameness about all the clubs.

There's another factor as far as the Cowboys and the Roosters are concerned. That's the extra workload their coaches have put on themselves. Roosters coach Ricky Stuart has tried to balance his club duties with the added responsibilities of the Australian coaching job.

Cowboys coach Graham Murray has faced a similar challenge in taking on the NSW State of Origin job.

Traditionally, the top club coaches have been only too willing to wear one of the top representative hats as well. In this modern game, I reckon this is costing clubs dearly.

There's strong evidence that any coach trying to do both jobs is bound to come unstuck. In fact I think it is a joke that NRL clubs stand in the way of their Kiwi players lining up against Great Britain for the Kiwis and yet don't have a problem with their coaches trying to manage two jobs.

I'm not saying the Roosters and Cowboys haven't had their fair share of injuries. But a team needs the coach, not his assistant, every day.

Queensland's success with Mal Meninga as coach for this year's Origin proves you don't have to be an NRL coach to do the rep job.

But the failure of the Warriors, Sharks, Cowboys, Roosters, Tigers and, to a lesser extent, the Rabbitohs should be a major worry to the NRL.

The Tigers were never going to be a threat without Benji Marshall.

Their season was sure to fail as soon as he needed another operation on his shoulder. Without Marshall, they are as ordinary as the rest. How can this be good for the game?

Their grand final opponents last year, the Cowboys have imploded and there are plenty of colourful theories. My view is Murray bit off more than he could chew when he took on the NSW job.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary inherited a major issue with the salary cap points deduction. But he has done an outstanding job.

I knew Ivan as a player and he had a quiet, determined manner which I see in his coaching. Coaching is not rocket science. It is about identifying your best players and getting the best out of them. Cleary has done this better than any other NRL coach this year among the teams who've missed the top eight.

His one big mistake has been to leave Lance Hohiaia out of his lineup so often. Over the past two weeks, playing in the unaccustomed centre position, Hohiaia has again proved what a good player he is.

The Warriors' win over the Storm last week was on the cards. Some may argue the Storm took their foot off the accelerator last week.

I disagree.

The Warriors showed just what might have been this season if they had got their act together with consistency.

This was a great Warriors win. Their steady improvement shows the coaching of Cleary is working. And the experience of this year, more than any other in the club's short history, will be invaluable next year.

Awen Guttenbeil and Brent Webb both play their last home games for the Warriors on Sunday. Both are terrific players and will be missed by the club and fans.

Guttenbeil will add some much-needed starch to the Castleford pack, and Leeds fans will not be let down by the great running game of Webb. Good luck, fellas.

Such was the strength of this year's Fox Memorial that at the end of the competition one point separated five teams, with Mangere East, winners of the Stormont Shield, and Te Atatu missing out on points differential.

Mt Albert, as top qualifier and minor premiers, won the Rukutai Shield to go with the Roope Rooster, and have the bye this weekend. In the first semifinal tomorrow Papakura play Northcote.

Their playmakers, Tristan Waipouri and Thomas Zwart, combine well, and they'll have too much firepower for Northcote.

The winner takes on Mt Albert next week while the loser plays the winner of the second semifinal between Marist and Otahuhu.

Marist has found some rare form of late and their strong pack is well supported by Eddie Leavai at half back and Danny Siave in the centres. On top of this they have good wingmen capable of scoring tries from anywhere.

Otahuhu also have a good balanced side and are particularly strong at hooker with young Arron Pawley in great form, and in the halves with Jacob Yandall and Leroy Faavesi, who is kicking well.

As you would expect, the Otahuhu forwards are tough and, on form, they should have finished third, but had two points deducted.

This should be a terrific game as the loser's season will end. It will be close, but I'm tipping Otahuhu on the basis they have a better record this season - and I'm an Otahuhu man.