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Top kicking coach Stuart Lierich talks to The Roar about the NRL’s best goal kickers, how goal kicking has become a real focus and its role in next year’s World Cup.
Goal kicking is an important part of rugby league but until recent times it has had the stigma of being “an afterthought” for players and team strategy. Adding the extra two points was a bonus on top of the four points for a try, and there would usually be only one established kicker in an elite team.
Fast-forward to 2012 and times have changed. Head coaches now expect the maximum six points from a converted try and NRL clubs each have two or three players who practice kicking in earnest. Furthermore, specialist-kicking coaches are part of a team’s set-up.
Stuart Lierich is one such example of the new breed of specialist. He assists the Queensland Rugby League, Australian Rugby Union and Melbourne Storm’s academy and elite youth players with all aspects of kicking. He is a passionate advocate of changing the way goal kicking is traditionally perceived in league. It is now a serious focus.
Take the case of young Warriors and Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson. With James Maloney departing to play for the Sydney Roosters next season, the Auckland side were suddenly without a recognised goal kicker.
Johnson had never kicked a goal at NRL level although did in the Toyota Cup, yet their kicking coach Daryl Halligan has given him the goal kicking duties for 2013.
However, Johnson will have the benefit of one-on-one time with one of the great goal-kickers such as the former Bulldog and Kiwi, which is something the previous generation rarely had access to.
“It has been awhile since an NRL club has had a great kicker like Maloney go, then having to choose a third or fourth string kicker as their number one. It shows how important it is for teams to insure they put effort into having a number of players to practice goal kicking.”
Despite the lack of experience, Johnson could be a very good goal kicker.
“Shaun is already a very good kicker in general play and has some good fundamentals established within his kicking. He also has a low centre of gravity that enables him to transfer his weight to the (goal post) target, and he is always balanced and stable when he kicks. Goal kicking won’t be a foreign skill for Shaun as he has probably kicked off a tee at practice.”
Lierich would like to see Storm, Queensland and Kangaroo halfback Cooper Cronk kick off the tee too. Generally, the players who have strong contact on the football and have good mental focus make quality goal kickers, says Lierich. Cronk fits this bill nicely.
Manly’s Jamie Lyon is his team’s first choice goal kicker, but it wasn’t always this way. While playing for the Parramatta Eels he was sixth or seventh choice kicker, yet still put in as much practice and effort as the most recognised kickers.
It is a good story for those who advocate a wide-ranging view of practicing the art.
Lyon is an excellent modern day kicker. But who are some of the best goal kickers and technicians Lierich has ever seen? Parramatta’s Luke Burt is his favourite. He had such a cool head – the “Ice-Man” – and didn’t feel pressure.
Technically, his kicking didn’t change much over his career. He kept things relatively simple and had very good mental aptitude.
Kangaroo halfback Johnathan Thurston is an example of a player who has identified the best contact area on the ball for him. This is how he can do the “theatrics” with the ball (swinging from right to left). An old-style kicking coach would try and correct him. But it is a very inventive way to develop a strong kicking routine, Lierich says.
Thurston will be integral to Australia’s World Cup hopes next year. With a host of teams fighting it out for finals spots, how important will goal kicking be?
“Critically important – and certainly accurate goal kicking could influence a lot of games. Just look at the recent (Tri-Nations) tournament between Wales, France and England – good goal kicking could be the difference one-sided affair or a more respectable score-line. You look at how well England and New Zealand are playing too… the expectation will be to get the extra two points from a goal every time.”
Lierich is one of a few who are looking to promote and educate the importance of goal kicking in rugby league. Let’s hope we see the standard across the sport continue to increase both at NRL and Test level.
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