Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:53 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I started the thread in response to an interview with SW a few weeks ago where he quite openly stated that the role was up for grabs and he named several players who may take on the role.
I just find it baffling that a supposedly top 4 team doesn't deem it important enough role to have a clear view literally a week or two prior to the start of the season.
Personally I predict we will struggle this season in attack after losing 2 of our main strike players therefore, a top class kicker is vital to ensure that we convert the vast majority tries into 6 points.
I believe that Smith had an injury last season which was the main reason why he passed over the goal kicking duties but I must admit he never gave me great confidence whilst he carried out the role.

Think you'll find alot of teams have this problem:
Leeds have Hardaker, Sutcliff whos not been able to practice through injury and Lilly who probably wont be in the team most weeks
Wire and Catalan both have two kickers who have kicked their whole careers to a high standard, it sounds like a good problem but it may increase pressure on both of them and cause player disruption (hopefully, for the rest of us)

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:19 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I started the thread in response to an interview with SW a few weeks ago where he quite openly stated that the role was up for grabs and he named several players who may take on the role.
I just find it baffling that a supposedly top 4 team doesn't deem it important enough role to have a clear view literally a week or two prior to the start of the season.
Personally I predict we will struggle this season in attack after losing 2 of our main strike players therefore, a top class kicker is vital to ensure that we convert the vast majority tries into 6 points.
I believe that Smith had an injury last season which was the main reason why he passed over the goal kicking duties but I must admit he never gave me great confidence whilst he carried out the role.

What would your solution be?

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:46 am  

Smith kicks 71%. Of the expected kickers for SL sides there is only Walsh (85%) who did significantly better last year, everyone else was <75%.

I'd argue that there are bigger things to worry about both individually for Smith and collectively for the team. To put this into perspective, if he had kicked 80% last year it would have been worth a grand total of four more goals over the course of the season. There's only really Hull KR away from last season where kicking really cost us, every other game we lost/drew he either kicked well, or it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:30 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Smith kicks 71%. Of the expected kickers for SL sides there is only Walsh (85%) who did significantly better last year, everyone else was <75%.

I'd argue that there are bigger things to worry about both individually for Smith and collectively for the team. To put this into perspective, if he had kicked 80% last year it would have been worth a grand total of four more goals over the course of the season. There's only really Hull KR away from last season where kicking really cost us, every other game we lost/drew he either kicked well, or it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

If that is correct (and I've no reason to doubt you) that is a pretty strong argument in favour of Matty carrying on.

I also agree that he/we have more important things to worry about.

It is just possible that Sam Tomkins may be able to take over the duties. He doesn't lack bottle and seems very comfortable kicking in play, taking penalties into touch and also taking the goal-line drop outs. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have a go at the conversions too.

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:34 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

If that is correct (and I've no reason to doubt you) that is a pretty strong argument in favour of Matty carrying on.

I also agree that he/we have more important things to worry about.

It is just possible that Sam Tomkins may be able to take over the duties. He doesn't lack bottle and seems very comfortable kicking in play, taking penalties into touch and also taking the goal-line drop outs. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have a go at the conversions too.

I think back to the 2010 Grand Final and shudder

I've always thought Charnley has a very good technique but maybe mentally he's not comfortable with the job. I think we'll be ok with Smith. We could do with him raising his percentages but they weren't too bad last year and I think the reason it was taken away from him was more to do with the fact that his general form wasn't the best and we were looking at ways of improving that.

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:39 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I think back to the 2010 Grand Final and shudder

I've always thought Charnley has a very good technique but maybe mentally he's not comfortable with the job. I think we'll be ok with Smith. We could do with him raising his percentages but they weren't too bad last year and I think the reason it was taken away from him was more to do with the fact that his general form wasn't the best and we were looking at ways of improving that.

I agree with you about Josh. He does have the range, which Matty struggles with.

I know what you mean about the 2010 GF, but remember the Leeds away game when Sam equalised with the last kick?

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:38 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

What would your solution be?

Hampshire

Re: Goal kicker : Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:49 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Smith kicks 71%. Of the expected kickers for SL sides there is only Walsh (85%) who did significantly better last year, everyone else was <75%.

I'd argue that there are bigger things to worry about both individually for Smith and collectively for the team. To put this into perspective, if he had kicked 80% last year it would have been worth a grand total of four more goals over the course of the season. There's only really Hull KR away from last season where kicking really cost us, every other game we lost/drew he either kicked well, or it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

He didn't kick all season so your analogy is slightly flawed.
A win at HKR would have given us the LLS wouldn't it?

I don't disagree about other things to worry about but this will come back to bite us in the harris unless smith improves his technique and success rate on previous seasons.
Maybe I should chill out and hope that Tony Clubb is going to extend his kicking "talents" from hand to ground

Re: Goal kicker : Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:38 am  

<sad eyes of Frano Botica>

Re: Goal kicker : Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:58 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Hampshire

Not as good a kicker as Smith. Very streaky. Can miss ones in front of the posts then knock one over from the edge. His technique is poor meaning he is always liable to miss kick it. Not worth his place in the team either. So I would disagree with you on all counts.