For the most part, the improvement has been in small, easily manageable steps. But in 2002, the greatest game of all is set to eclipse the world pole vault record for the leap it will take beyond its golden era in the early 1990s.

There are a lot of reasons for it, but the biggest one comes in the form of the most unlikely hero in such a professional, money driven sport: the hard skinned battlers from Redfern; the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Expelled from the competition in 1999 after failing to make the top 14 sides for the cut in 2000, Souths' determination was unerring. Despite two hefty court defeats, disappointment after disappointment, and being told by anyone who drifted past that they had no hope, in May 2001, their prayers were answered. The courts finally sided with them, and the NRL wisely fast tracked discussions to have them included in the 2002 competition and beyond.

The euphoria of the red and green fans was unlike anything the game had seen before. Not even their fellow battlers from Newcastle could claim their against-the-wall premierships in 1997 and 2001 held the same esteem amongst both the salt of the earth and white collar chardonnay set of fans.

Since the news of the Rabbitoh Renaissance you are hard pressed to find anyone who expresses a negative opinion. Even I, one of Souths' staunchest critics during and after the war, up until as late as a week before their court case, are well and truly converted. I am, by no means, a South Sydney fan, but I'm a tremendous fan of what South Sydney brings to our game.

People overuse the words tradition and passion these days. It's bandied about as a political message when business issues see unfortunate but necessary cut backs and changes in certain areas of sport. However, passion and tradition are synonymous with red and green. They were involved in the very first premiership match in 1908, and after missing 2000 and 2001, their fans, their staff and also Rugby League supporters in general are anxiously awaiting their debut.

As you sat amongst the two-thirds empty stands at ANZ Stadium as the Broncos' faltered under the weight of their horrendous injury toll and schedule last season, if someone was to come up to you - in a red and green jumper - and say the Charity Shield clash, little more than a glorified trial game, would be sold out three weeks before it was scheduled to be played at the Sydney Football Stadium - a 42000 seat arena - you would have been quite within your rights to shove your sausage and onion roll down their throats and call for the men in white coats.

But that's the reality we have. The February 16 clash with St George-Illawarra is a sell out. Channel 9, Foxtel and Optus are all televising the game, Nine even showing the game LIVE!! Channel 9 doesn't even show finals games live - except the Grand Final. Their first round clash with local rivals Sydney Roosters is also likely to be sold out, or close to it. A trial game against the New Zealand Warriors at the traditional Rugby Union haunt of Carlaw Park in Auckland is also being tipped to sell out.

Rugby League is back on people's minds. It's still more than 6 weeks from kick off and everyone is anxiously seeing which trial games they can attend. Season ticket enquiries around all 15 clubs are frenetic.

It would be remiss to think that all of the excitement of the 2002 season revolves around South Sydney. While the Broncos' premierships in 1998 and 2000 were very much foregone conclusions before a ball was kicked in the Grand Final, the 1999 and 2001 deciders held fairytale quality at its best. Melbourne's controversial but remarkable victory in 1999 shaded by Newcastle's ingenius slaughter of hottest of hot favourites Parramatta in the first ever night time Grand Final of a unified competition.

Along with Souths' surprise court victory, suddenly the foregone conclusions aren't so foregone.

Closer to home, there hasn't been as much anticipation about the build up to a season at the Broncos since their debut in 1988. Alfie Fever has struck for the second time in less than 12 months. Will he, or won't he? That's the question on everybody's lips. With each passing day, as we move towards February and trial time, the likelihood of a Langer comeback increases. His attendance of a 6-day camp in Fiji is a further hint that he is keen. The fact his only gripe with preseason training has been the 3 hour round trip from Caloundra is a good sign that the training itself is not a problem. At the surf carnival on the Sunshine Coast last week Alf looked as fit as ever. A partnership with similarly crafty Shaun Berrigan in the halves has many Bronco fans salivating.

And that's before you even mention the return of the Raging Bull. Gorden Tallis, who many feared was lost to the game forever after having neck surgery last year to try and correct a condition that ended the career of Dragons captain Nathan Brown this time last year, will be back on the paddock in 2002. With Darren Lockyer reaching the peak of his powers, and Langer there to ease the pressure of directing traffic, anything is possible.

The feeling of excitement is not limited to fans and media either. The atmosphere within the Broncos camp is electric. There is genuine excitement about preseason training, particularly with the Tallis and possible Langer comebacks. There is a special feeling amongst the players, particularly with the next group of youngsters, led by the prodigiously gifted Ashley Harrison, set to make their representative debuts after strong performances for the Emerging Origin squad for Queensland. The ball is in his court to join the likes of Chris Walker, Brad Meyers, Dane Carlaw, Petero Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri who, with the exception of Walker, made the dizzying climb from first grader to Test player over the course of just a single season.

For Broncos fans, there's yet another growing feeling of excitement, one that will not be realised in 2002, maybe not even 2003, but it will happen. A return to the Cauldron. ANZ Stadium is on its last legs and it seems only the diehards are keen to show their support against all and sundry at the converted athletics track. Closer to the city, closer to the pubs, and with a genuine tradition in Rugby League behind it, Lang Park will instantly bring in a swell of support. Hopefully the Broncos will still be maintaining their on field standard to maintain that off field support.

2002 will no doubt have its own surprises. South Sydney may struggle to match on field the euphoria off it, but their return will be worth the excitement around the game now. With the seemingly endless cricket season thankfully just a week from being over, the Rugby League season storms toward us.

Who can wait?