Graham Lowe: Big prop, Huge potential

Part of the popular appeal of league is its ability to deliver in an arena of 26 gladiators a series of defining one-on-one confrontations.

It's often said that on a league field there is no place to hide.

There's no potential for a player to earn the dubious accolade of toiling in the tight-loose, or excelling in the set pieces. My experience is that this simply means the commentator hasn't actually spotted the bloke in question for 80 minutes.

League crowds relish the big hits, and over the years they've been spoiled by a succession of big men who can hit harder than most, both offensively and defensively.

Players like Kurt Sorensen and Gorden Tallis were devastating in carting the ball to the defensive line and just as damaging were Mark Graham, Terry Randell and little Geoff Toovey in defence.

In the 1970s, Auckland Rugby League had its own one-man wrecking machine, a fellow by the name of Albie Hansen. Albie joined the Mt Albert club from Manukau and Auckland Rugby, and sent more than one defender into cloud-cuckoo land with his flat-to-the-boards, all or nothing charges into opponents.

The Warriors have a player now who reminds me very much of Hansen.

Iafeta Paleaaesina is a player with the potential to become the best prop in the competition. As he matures, and improves his ability to read the play, he will develop into the type of front rower who can win games.

Even now he is the only game-breaker in the Warriors forward pack. But it needs to be pointed out to him that it is easier to run through an open door than a wall.

His current habit of running only one off the ruck is wasting the potential damage he could inflict by getting two or even three wide. No other front rower in the game has his speed, balance or sheer power, and if he can develop an offload, he will be devastating.

Steve Price and Ruben Wiki bring a steadiness to the Warriors pack that all teams need. But Paleaaesina is the man most opposition packs dread having to tackle.

At his best, former Warrior Joe Vagana was a front rower out of a similar mould. But Big Joe was never ever used correctly by the club, or for that matter the Kiwis.

Too often players are given a role that suits the number on their back rather than their ability.

If Paleaaesina lets loose on Sunday, the Rabbitohs' inside backs will be jumping out of his way.

The big guy has a cult following at Ericsson because the crowds love the way he charges the ball up. And his type of play can also inspire his team-mates.

I'm a big fan of getting the balance right in the forward pack and in the Warriors' case, with this big bloke in the line-up, they are close to it. But a true ball-playing second rower definitely needs to be found.

Like most big forwards Paleaaesina has his limitations on defence but Monty Betham is doing enough tackling on his own to cover that problem.

I've been very impressed this year with Betham's workrate.

I doubt South Sydney will be too keen on taking the Warriors on in the forwards. If they do, I think they'll get smashed.

But their backs are looking very dangerous and this is where the Rabbitohs' attack will come from.

They'll target the marker defence using their smaller players from dummy half because that is still a problem for the home side.

Souths captain Bryan Fletcher is the best ball-playing back rower in the NRL so they do create a lot of chances. The two-week suspension of Adam MacDougall will be a blessing for the Warriors because his form has been very good and he will be missed at fullback.

The Rabbitohs coach Shaun McRae has outstanding credentials, but I believe his team will struggle to cope with the backlash that the Warriors will deliver after their narrow loss to the Cowboys last Sunday.

But the best signing South Sydney have made for many years is Shane Richardson, their chief executive. He is the best in the NRL and the type of person players, coaches and the fans respect.

Leadership, courage and vision are very important ingredients any club has to have and with Richardson at the helm, South Sydney are heading back to the top.

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Manly are proving a champion team will always beat a team of champions and while it is only early in the season they certainly deserve to be sitting at the top of the table.

Their captain and halfback Michael Monaghan is in outstanding form and if he can remain injury-free I see no reason they cannot continue their early form.