By PETE HAYES

THE spark was immediately re-ignited when Kevin Walters and Alfie Langer pulled on the Warrington Wolves jerseys together for the first time this week.

Walters poured out the old pal's act as one of the most famous partnerships in world Rugby League was reunited.

He said: "When Alf left Brisbane a part of my game left as well.

"That's one thing I missed in the last two years.

"Playing with Alf is a different kettle of fish. There's always something happening when he's out there and you have to be ready for it."

As individuals they are dynamite, but together they will be a real handful for the best of Super League defences this year.

Walters and Langer first played together at 18 years of age for representative side Ipswich, north of Sydney on Australia's east coast.

They went on to win four Grand Finals together at Brisbane Broncos and now their born-again partnership at the Wolves will be whetting the appetite of Warrington fans.

Despite captaining Brisbane to the Australian NRL premiership crown last season Walters thinks that he will play even better for Warrington because he works so well as a unit with Alf.

He said: "My game will definitely improve because of playing alongside Alf.

"After a few matches back together we'll be able to get some good things happening.

"I wouldn't expect it to take too long for us to gel because Alf is such an easy player to play with.

"We complement each other and all it needs is for the rest of the team to be in the right positions when Alf gets hold of the ball."

Walters joins the Wolves fighting for the stand off birth along with Lee Briers and Steve Georgallis.

Walters has played a small proportion of games at hooker and made it clear that stand off is where he is most at home.

He said: "I would like to be playing stand off and if I'm not then I will only have myself to blame. But I won't be expecting any favours."

The former Test star watched Briers help destroy Australia for 40 minutes in the World cup and he said: "He looks like a good young player. He kicked some good field goals but I am sure we can all survive."

If Walters was to be beaten to the stand off birth then hooker would be the next logical vacancy but this would affect the famous half back team.

Walters said: "It would probably not work quite as well when you've got to get in at dummy half. That may or may not work depending on how Darryl wants Alf to play."

The 33-year-old has been to England five times before with Australia and the Broncos and the big English props and Aussie imports alike are bound to pick out Warrington's two pint-sized dynamoes for special treatment.

Walters said: "Teams have been trying to do that for a long time without much success. I'll have a few tricks to shake them off.

"Younger players early in their career face that hurdle but as you get older and play more football you tend to overcome that."

The Rockhampton-born Queenslander also revealed how he coped with criticism he faced in Australia and how he would react to the same response this season.

He said: "The pressure won't affect me at all. I've always been under pressure playing football.

"People expect things of you and if you don't deliver they have a right to be upset.

"I came under fire last year with people saying I was too old and should have retired but in the end I won through.

"The more you listen to it the more it worries you so playing good football is the only way to answer the critics."

Walters also explained his reasoning for his about-turn on retirement and a coaching job to join the Wolves.

He said: "When Alf came back from England for Christmas he said what a good time he'd had and that he enjoyed his footy.

"So I made some enquires. A player is a long time retired and I still feel I've got something to offer the game and hopefully that will be proved.

"Things went so well for me at the Broncos, it was sad when Alf left and I always thought we would retire together.

"He came over and had a good season last year. He was happy with what happened plus he and Andrew Gee were full of confidence about the place so it made the decision easier."

Walters also had family to call on for advice about playing Rugby League in England.

One thing Walters is excited about is playing in front of the cauldron-like atmosphere of English crowds, as was explained to him by his brother who had a spell at Gateshead Thunder.

Walters said: "Kerrod enjoyed playing here and told me a lot about the crowds.

"We get 35,000 at the ANZ Stadium (Brisbane's ground) but you can hardly hear them. It is totally different to what the crowds are like here which is something I'm really looking forward to."