NRL: Team-mates can Seymour clearly

Chatterbox: Brett Seymour. Photo / Getty Images

The phrase 'life-changing experience' is bandied about liberally, and often unnecessarily, but for halfback Brett Seymour it is a reality at the Warriors - and it may be that he is now helping to change their lives.

Seymour was offered a one-year contract with an option for a second year on the condition he laid off the booze - a well-documented problem of his past. He has succeeded so far, rewarding his team-mates with two fine, directional performances ahead of today's home match with South Sydney.

Last week's win against the Cowboys exemplified Seymour's presence, a factor which could help define the Warriors' season.

He combined accurate kicking with abrasive defence while relieving pressure on his team-mates, notably youthful five-eighth James Maloney. Maloney had his best game in a Warriors jersey for a number of rounds, knowing he had reliable back-up.

"He took a lot of pressure off with his organisational skills," Maloney says. "It allowed me to do my thing. I'm real happy to have him back. It's a big job organising and directing a side so to have another bloke who is so skilful is helpful. He also gives us another ball-playing option and a decent kicking boot."

Seymour's talking helps players feel more organised when putting together their sets. Last week captain Micheal Luck labelled him one of the best he'd ever played with in that regard. Hooker Aaron Heremaia has backed that up: "It frees you up more to concentrate on your own game. It helped me and it definitely helped Jimmy [Maloney]. Brett has the total respect of the players in what he's doing. There's trust when he directs the team around."

Seymour is known as Buster but might soon get the nickname The Fonz after Ivan Cleary's memorable quote last week when referring to the potential returns of the halfback, Manu Vatuvei and Simon Mannering: "It's a bit like in [the 1970s TV show] Happy Days when The Fonz ain't around. Ralph Malph and Potsie Weber can only keep the show going for so long."

While Seymour didn't quite saunter in, snap his fingers and emit a prolonged 'aaaay!', he has nonetheless galvanised the team. He is an affable but reserved character who seems largely unaltered by the huge attention devoted to his league philosophies by those following the Warriors fortunes.

"I'm not looking to be a world beater in my first couple of games back. I'm trying to build my season towards the later rounds. A crucial part of that is James and I forming a decent combination.

"My aim is to make everyone's job simpler so players aren't questioning where they should be running or what they should be doing. The boys should be aware of our goal for each set at any time so the likes of Jerome [Ropati] and Brent [Tate] have the time to run free in the centres when required."

He reserves praise and protection for Maloney in equal measure given the torrid NRL baptism he's faced in the first half of the season - flitting between hesitant and sublime.

"I took it upon myself to lead the team around and take some pressure off him last week. While our attack was still a bit stuttering, we defended well and I felt there was more purpose to our performance. Like anybody in his position, it's been hard for James to get used to the week-in week-out NRL grind. Whenever I can take that pressure off him will help, so he can express his game more.

"For a young guy to fill a number seven jersey for much of the season thus far is a tough job, especially when you've got to order around older forwards."

A win today will slip the Warriors back inside the top eight, helped by the fact three teams above them will also have had a bye week.