Goal kickers are like clean underwear on a camping trip; you don’t realise how valuable they are until they’re gone.
In a competition where around 25 per cent of games are decided by four points or fewer, having an accurate goal kicker can increase your team’s probability of success.
Unfortunately, and much to their detriment, not all clubs agree.
Like Parramatta and the Wests Tigers, the Manly Sea Eagles entered the 2017 season without a recognised, first choice goal kicker. Dylan Walker has done a serviceable job, but there can be no doubt that his 61 per cent strike rate has hurt Manly at times this season.
A good example was in Manly’s Round 7 clash against the Storm. After falling behind early, the Sea Eagles mounted a spirited fight back against a far superior Melbourne outfit, but eventually fell 30-26. Walker’s right boot (3 from 5) eventually proved the difference between the two sides.
It was a similar story in Round 2 against South Sydney. The Sea Eagles crossed the stripe three times in the opening 12 minutes, but Walker missed all three conversion attempts. The Rabbitohs were being dominated on the field, but this was not reflected on the score board.
Facing only a 12-0 instead of a possible 18-0 deficit, South Sydney was able to swing the momentum, and ended up thrashing the Sea Eagles 38-18. Manly may have still gone on to lose the match even if Walker had converted all three attempts, but a lead of three converted tries would have been much harder for the Rabbitohs to chase down.
And then again in Round 8 Manly were forced to Golden Point against the Canberra Raiders after Walker sprayed two very makeable conversion attempts late in the second half. Had he slotted either, the Sea Eagles would have won the game in regular time.
Manly aren’t the only team to have suffered in this department. Other clubs have felt the pain of having limited goal-kicking options on their roster. During a Round 2 clash with the Roosters, Canterbury was unable to compensate after an injury to first choice kicker Kerrod Holland. Moses Mbye was handed the tee, booted two from five and the Bulldogs lost the match 28-24.
Brisbane suffered a similar drop-off in goal kicking accuracy after Jordan Kahu busted his MCL, while the North Queensland Cowboys have used three different options in a failed attempt to fill the void left by Johnathan Thurston. Ethan Lowe even had a crack. I haven’t witnessed such ugliness off the tee since my last round at Kooindah Waters.
Goal kicking isn’t easy. I get that. It’s a skill that requires precise technique and countless hours of repetition. But it remains exactly that: a skill. It’s not something a player is born with, like raw speed or field vision, but rather something that can be taught, practiced and perfected.
In a competition where teams are forever looking for a competitive advantage, clubs that focus on the quality and quantity of their goal kicking options will have the edge over their opposition.
Tie me Kangaroo down, Mal
I understand the concept of incumbency. Players are selected because they’ve been there and done it before. The coaching staff can trust them to do a job. They’ve proven they can succeed at the highest level, and coaches are always loathe to break up a winning side.
I also understand that the lead up to the Anzac Test is more condensed than a tin of Carnation. With media commitments, fan engagement, and an endless stream of Fox Sports soliloquies to film, Mal Meninga’s men will only have two or three ball sessions before taking on the Kiwis. Leaning on existing combinations will help to compensate for this lack of preparation time.
I get all that. But I simply can’t reconcile how some of the selections in this Kangaroos side will give Australia the best chance to win the game.
The omission of Wade Graham borders on criminal negligence. The Bull Shark has been in sparkling touch this season, routinely bashing opposition sides out of the contest. Some will say he was left out of the team as both he and Boyd Cordner play on the same side of the field. What absolute rubbish. Dry that one out and you could fertilise my vegetable garden.
So too the exclusion of Andrew Fifita. Mal Meninga went on the record earlier this year declaring that Fifita’s prior indiscretions would not remove him from Kangaroo consideration, but I see no other reason why he was initially left out.
David Klemmer, who plays lock forward for his club side, and whose form is nowhere near that of Fifita, was chosen in his place. It took injuries to both Aaron Woods and Shannon Boyd for Mal to swallow his pride and pick up the phone.
And then there is the selection of Blake Ferguson. With no offence to Blake, the list of outside backs in better form than the Roosters winger stretches further than the drinks line at the Coogee Bay Hotel. And some of the men on that list can probably be found in that line. Ferguson won’t let the side down, but there are many more deserving of that opportunity.
At the same time, New Zealand has quietly assembled a pretty handy side. With Foran and Johnson in the halves, Roger at the back and Bromwich, Taumalolo and Taupau up front, this may be one of the strongest Kiwi outfits in years.
Mal Meninga has taken a massive gamble, opting to select injured and out of form incumbents over men at the top of their game. While I would never barrack against an Australian side, a thumping by New Zealand would be an excellent wakeup call leading into the World Cup.
5th Tackle Option
Here are five quick thoughts on the action from Round 9.
1. If Anthony Griffin’s seat gets any hotter, he may need a balm to treat his burns. Penrith was abominable again on Thursday night. A disorganised rabble in defence, their attack reeked of desperation.
They simply do not play with any patience. Instead of building pressure, they attempt to score on every play. And while they did mount a small comeback in the second half by playing silly buggers with the football, the game was already over.
2. In an unpredictable season, one thing is certain. If South Sydney were to play the Penrith Panthers, rugby league would not be the winner.
3. It’s hard to believe that as recently as last month, Des Hasler was on the brink of losing his job as coach of the Bulldogs. Since that early season skirmish, Hasler’s squad has won four of their last five and secured the signatures of Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods.
The Dogs are back in the eight and back under the radar. Just the way Des likes it.
4. Thank you Justin Hodges. Not since 2002 have you given so generously to NSW. Jarryd Hayne depends on media attention to fuel his ego, and you have thrown a couple of logs onto the fire in his belly. Please keep the insults coming, at least until May 31st.
5. Massive call by Ashley Klein over in New Zealand last night. I have no problem with the decision, or the fact that the decision had such an obvious influence over the outcome of the game.
Klein went with his gut, and kudos to him for having the stones to make the call. Not all referees would have blown the whistle in that situation.
Follow Tom on Twitter @_TomRock_
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
That is true mate.
Clint
Guest
A synonym for pedantic is precise. As in Klein was precise in his application of the laws of the game when he penalised Pearce in the dying minutes. An antonym for pedantic is careless. As in Klein was careless in his application of the laws of the game when he allowed Hoffman to stand 2 meters offside at the play-the-ball. 1. It's a special marginal case because the ref can decide when the out-of-play player is in play again. Pearce had rejoined his defensive line, so had he retired the 10 and re-advanced he would be in the same place. It can go either way - as evidenced by Klein deciding that Hoffman had no effect on proceedings earlier in the game 2. You do see it let go - quite a lot in the dying minutes of tight matches and golden point extra time. Here's some examples I dug up using an internet search: There's 2 blatant examples in one game in this Panthers Warriors clip: http://www.stuff.co.nz/82704313 A famous one by Cam Smith on Thurston: http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/05/19/cameron-smith-the-referee-whisperer/ http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/andrew-johns-claims-cameron-smith-pulled-future-immortal-card-to-get-away-with-pivotal-offside/news-story/cdcdeef871a9fa66508fe60084c17a61 85th minute Luke Lewis "makes no attempt to get onside": http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/proof-referees-blow-half-as-many-penalties-in-golden-point-blatant-offside-plays-ignored/news-story/34443434dd6dc17e447b03bb01162f81 Ryan James on Rapana, "made no attempt to get onside": http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/canberra-raiders/talking-points-canberra-raiders-winger-jordan-rapana-off-to-flying-start-to-nrl-season-20170408-gvgppc.html Both coaches admit their players were offside plenty in this match: http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/12/golden-point-out-hasler-barrett-seek-review-after-controversy/
Bakkies
Guest
The Springboks have had good goal kickers and kick long distances even away from altitude. Slim players like Johan Goosen have excellent techniques and can nail kicks from over half way on the touch line.
Clint
Guest
The rulebook doesn't say "if a player makes a token effort to retire the 10 he is back in play and no penalty shall be given". He's back in play when he gets onside or the ref deems the advantage gained by not retiring has been lost. Pearce had rejoined his own defensive line - which had sufficient time to retire the ten and return - by the time he got involved. Compare that to Hoffman a few minutes earlier - he was standing next to our dummy half at the play-the-ball at a point in the game where quick service was crucial for field-goal attempts. Gordon was never going to get a decent pass out of that ruck. How's that in the spirit of the game?
mushi
Guest
The difference in the ball has something to do with it also. In union the field position for a kickable penalty (or drop goal) is different
mushi
Guest
Um I don’t think you know what the word pedantic means if you’re implying he applied the rules inconsistently? It is hardly pedantry when the guy made no effort to retire the 10 and we gained the advantage of our line being set. Pedantry would be if Pearce retired 8 metres and he called him on it. As to how often do you see it. 1. I’m not sure why this offside is considered a special marginal case compared to all others when it was as far offside as you can get. At best you can ping him as the least square marker in history 2. How often do you see it let go? How often do you see a guy get up completely and utterly offside, right beside the ruck and just and just go on playing and then influence the play? It’s pretty bloody rare that a footballer doesn’t at least attempt to retire. Haven’t we had crazy ones where guys in back play get involved and get pinged if it’s noticed? Pearce tried to cheat plain and simple, got caught and cost us the game.
mushi
Guest
I’d say the “hence” it hasn’t been given is that very few players wouldn’t even try to make a token effort to retire. But I’m sure you’ve got the 99+ examples to counter ….
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Steve Ah - I didn't realise they do it in the 7s/9s. For me - it's always been one of the great appeals of Aust Footy - the egalitarianism of kicking at goals. Anyone might have a go if they've earned the right.
Farqueue
Guest
Agree with most stuff except the Blake Ferguson piece. I've got no time for the guy but he did win Australian player of the tour on the very successful four nations jaunt. Now you want to drop him. I'm glad you're not a selector.
mary
Guest
as i understand thats the way it was originally tom (way back before the code split). you could take a try at a goal or you could get them to drop it out so you could try and get another try closer in.
Steve
Guest
I like this idea...like in the 7s or 9's. Scorer kicks. I love it.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Tom In some games you can kick the ball with your head!!
Perry Bridge
Guest
The concept of the major objective - or 'goal' of both Rugby codes as being a 'touchdown' (and so, throw US/Canadian football in this too - without the term...) and calling it a 'TRY' and yet retaining goals but devaluing them to a real time irrelevance and a minor cream on the cake after a 'try' is achieved - - that really confuses the issue. Shouldn't the 'try' be rephrased a 'goal' now - it IS the object or goal of the game play. The notion that the 'goal' of a game of football needs to be characterised as a set of goal posts is a bit one dimensional. And of course - the irony of RL folk dissing the AFL for a 'point for missing' - the irony is in RL you only get a point for kicking a (field) goal.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Okay - coming from an AFL background - I understand that field goals for example - in RL are largely a thing of the past - left for golden point scenarios - so, contrast to RU, many more goal attempts in general field play. However - the conversion kicking - it's a set play, stopped play situation. It's a mechanical skill with a static ball. Surely that is able to be learned? and perfected. It's not as if there's a ball drop or real time tackling pressure. The angle and distance is something you have a level of control over. If need be - have 2 goal kickers - A left foot specialist kicking from right field and a right foot specialist from left field. So long as you get the head space of the players right - surely it's doable. There's far greater certainty in what you can practice for than for example than the AFL - although less certainty than a soccer penalty shot. My preferred scenario - and same should happen in soccer - is to get rid of the 'specialist' notion. If you score the try then you get the kick. Likewise in soccer - if you draw the penalty - then you take the penalty.....otherwise it's like batting with a runner but letting the runner face up for you.
Steve
Guest
Or I prefer exciting rugby league, as opposed to watching Johnny Wilkinson kick penalties...
Tom Rock
Expert
Why can't we have both? Andrew Johns, Jonathan Thurston and Cameron Smith are three of the best players of all time. Each excels at playing an attacking brand of football. And all three are exceptional goal kickers. I don't think that being an exciting player and a quality goal kicker are mutually exclusive. Just spend a little more time at the kicking tee, and a little less time on the wrestling mat.
Tom Rock
Expert
Let's settle this the old fashion way. Wikipedia defines football as the following: 'Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball with the foot to score a goal. Unqualified, the word football is understood to refer to whichever form of football is the most popular in the regional context in which the word appears. Sports commonly called 'football' in certain places include: association football (known as soccer in some countries); gridiron football (specifically American football or Canadian football); Australian rules football; rugby football (either rugby league or rugby union); and Gaelic football.[1][2] These different variations of football are known as football codes.'
Ziusudra
Guest
Actually "football" in it's orginal sense had nothing to do with kicking the ball! The game of football from which all modern codes descend (soccer, league, union, NFL and so on) was so-called becaue it was played on foot (as opposed to on horseback)
Adam
Roar Guru
I also think the lack of interests in having decent kickers is an Australian problem. Our union kickers are also pretty terrible when compared to our All Black and northern hemisphere rivals. I wonder if it has anything to do with playing in relatively dry conditions most of the time so games are never perceived to be won on the back of a good kicker because scoring trys is seen as "easy".
Steve
Guest
or perhaps I'm suggesting to prevent the snoozefest of rugby yawnion... If you enjoy and promote the likes of El Masri, Halligan and other average footballers (perhaps I'm being a little harsh) who can pot a penalty over someone like a Tuquiri, or Sailor, then good luck to you. I prefer to watch entertaining football.