Graham Lowe: A gameplan that was born in the backyard

Kevin Locke has the skills. Photo / Getty Images

We are witnessing a total change in how the NRL may be played next year.

For a game steeped in the tradition of uncompromising defence the clock is being turned back to attack.

What we are seeing now is a game that has been perfected in the backyards of kids like Kevin Locke, Benji Marshall and Jarrod Hayne. It's a very simple but deadly game of draw-and-pass football.

I have no interest in what the statistics say of this: I make my judgment on how I've seen the game being played over the past few weeks.

There is an element of entertainment that is truly exceptional. The 2010 NRL season will mark a new age of thinking by NRL coaches. Any coach who refuses to adjust won't last in his job.

The game is leaving behind the statisticians with their boring tackle counts and hit-ups. Anticipation is the new word and it is that which the new breed of players are bringing.

In short it is something that can't be measured. It's called skill and it's back.

There's no doubt the NRL is a great competition but let's be honest. It was developing into a game in which the backs needed a crowbar to get the ball off the forwards.

I'm going to take a guess and say that clubs will score at least 25 per cent more tries next year than what they did this year.

It will have nothing to do with poor defence, it will happen because of greater emphasis on attack and attacking players.

The Warriors have been taught a cruel lesson this year. But with this little pain should come a lot of gain next year.

They have the potential to score as many tries as anyone..

I'm sure coach Ivan Cleary will be watching these last few games and thinking to himself - we could have beaten them!