Graham Lowe: Salute the 'dinner suit' players

Jarryd Hayne. Photo / Getty Images

They both wear number one on their backs but both could play in dinner suits. Or for that matter Superman outfits.

Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne is blessed with a skill that certainly makes him Parra's "man in the dinner suit".

And what can you say about the Storm's Billy Slater. Personally I think he is the game's most valuable property. He's certainly their "man in the dinner suit".

Every successful team needs one. These are the special players who seem to be able to create something from nothing.

They have so much time, skill and vision, they are very hard for the defence to nail. In fact they rarely get caught at all and for that reason they could go out and play in a dinner suit. I'd suggest Dan Carter is the All Blacks' "man in the dinner suit".

They are the untouchables of their game.

In fairness to Melbourne they have a few players that seem to mesmerise the defence. Because of that, they will be considered favourites.

But Slater, Hayne, Melbourne's Greg Inglis and Parramatta's Krisan Inu are all very special players.

These guys are taking league to a whole new level.

They are combining all the skills of rugby league with acrobatics and daring not ever seen before.

Each week I ask myself "can this get any better"?

But it does. Somehow these players are displaying a confidence and skill level that is just truly incredible.

It can't be coached because it's purely instinctive! And it would be very easy to coach the instinct out of their players. But both the Eels and Storm coaches have encouraged it. They have also moulded a great team and that is easy to forget. Naturally the star players attract the limelight but I'm very impressed in the manner each of these teams has been guided through the year.

In particular I'm pleased for Eels coach Daniel Anderson, because he has now found himself.

Watching him during his time here with the Warriors he always gave me the impression he was a control freak. This is not uncommon for rookie coaches and usually only a total change of environment can reset thinking.

It is obvious this has happened to Anderson during his time at St Helens. He probably now recognises at this NRL level it is more about coaxing the best out of players rather than coaching the best out of them.

And with the encouragement both Parramatta and the Storm are getting it seems the game is turning into one where all players adopt an "I-can-do-anything-better-than-you" attitude.

It's simply marvellous.

As for boundaries and limitations: some of these NRL players are able to simply fly over them.

Many of their feats are beyond belief! But they are also lifting the levels of expectation to a near greedy frenzy.

The fans demand more.

Historically grand finals are expected to deliver a conservative approach with teams careful not to make unforced errors.

Slater, Hayne and company are typical of a new breed of football players and being conservative does not enter their minds.

I mentioned a couple of months ago that I thought we were witnessing a totally new style of league evolving and I'm more convinced now than ever.

None of this will have gone unnoticed by the Warriors' Ivan Cleary and the other NRL coaches.

I'm expecting 2010 to be the most exciting season of all time.

All sides will play a brand of football that leaves everyone spellbound.

(I'll give you the tip now - the Warriors will be right up there in 2010.)

And the good thing is that nothing is being compromised in the delivery of this exciting style of play.

Defence is still very important and can win games.

But now the NRL seems to have a perfect balance of attack and defence.

Maybe it is now attack and counter-attack.

But as good as the men in the dinner suits are, they still rely on their forwards to forge and maintain momentum.

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