A goal kicker...and a captain...

[jadtiger]

Been an issue for years. For whatever reason it’s not happened, you’re not going to target someone purely because they can kick goals if they’re no good elsewhere and we just haven’t managed to sign one. It’s a bit ridiculous that it’s been so long since we’ve had a good one though. The club has tried to teach plenty of guys to get better at it and it hasn’t worked. Boggles the mind really

Ross Conlon says hello

Remember the place kicks to find touch !
All on a mound of sand as well .

I remember a game at Leichhardt in the 80’s we beat the drag queens with conlon kicking the winner 10 in from touch, 10 inside our own half. Swear it was still going up when it crossed the black dot.....

Might have been about 58m out and some 13 or 14 in from touch, but it was an absolutely awesome kick on a great afternoon.

I was sitting on the hill side and as soon as it left his boot you could tell it was going to make it.The eruption from the crowd when it went over was priceless

 

[happy_tiger]

I don't understand at all how we haven't had a good goal kicker in years. I played social grade footy last year and even our goal kicker was better than anyone we've trot out since Pat Richards.

Even Mitchell Moses was garbage when he was here. We have had Jason Taylor, Richards and Brett Hodgson - all fantastic goal kickers in their days - through this club at some point. And yet still not a single goal kicker. You'd have thought we would've produced at least one or two guns with those three in your ranks.

Doesn't mean the players you mentioned are good goalkicking coaches .....Hogdo's goal kicking could get erratic at times as well

 

[Tim Sheens]

Been an issue for years. For whatever reason it’s not happened, you’re not going to target someone purely because they can kick goals if they’re no good elsewhere and we just haven’t managed to sign one. It’s a bit ridiculous that it’s been so long since we’ve had a good one though. The club has tried to teach plenty of guys to get better at it and it hasn’t worked. Boggles the mind really

Ross Conlon says hello

Remember the place kicks to find touch !
All on a mound of sand as well .

I remember a game at Leichhardt in the 80’s we beat the drag queens with conlon kicking the winner 10 in from touch, 10 inside our own half. Swear it was still going up when it crossed the black dot.....

Might have been about 58m out and some 13 or 14 in from touch, but it was an absolutely awesome kick on a great afternoon.

I was sitting on the hill side and as soon as it left his boot you could tell it was going to make it.The eruption from the crowd when it went over was priceless

As was I, with a bunch of mates and other regulars in Doug and his family with esky in front of us, at our usual spot in line with what would be today's 30m one on the other side of halfway, so we didn't know until it went between the sticks. Another fond memory of Conlon was before he come to the Tigers and had me looking forward to him coming. I don't think it was a punch, but amongst the big brawl in one of the early true SOO matches, might have been the first 3 match series, he and choppy Close came together and Ross put him on his ass.

On topic, a few were posting about Mbye kicking from the right and Marshall/Doueihi from the left prior to the game. Oddly, we then saw Mbye first up with a poor miss from the left, then Doueihi from the right and to top it off, Mbye nails one from near the sideline.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

The game has changed from when you could put an average winger in a side who had a superboot and hope for the best. Wingers require probably the most expansive skillset in a team now. In addition to being quick, they have to have the high ball skills of a fullback, return kicks like a prop, put in the odd threatening short or in-field kick like a half, and be able to defend reasonably well. Finding one who can do most of that adequately and then kick 15 out of 20 goals is a tough ask.

 

[Newtown]

they teach mbye how to kick. but he doesnt care. they should put effort into teaching a rookie to kick

He’s a reluctant kicker and a reluctant captain. imo

He's not reluctant to pick up his cash as is the norm for quite a few Wests Tigers players.

 

[TheDaBoss]

Cam Smith

Goal Kicker :fa-check: Captain :fa-check: - Sign him up :smirk:

Thurston goal kicker :fa-check: Captain :fa-check: - Snag him tigs

 

[Tigerbuck63]

Made this post last year...and the year(s) before that...

But does it not ever cross anyone at the club's mind that going up by 6 would help? Tons of outside backs kick goals...and we have a poor back line. It is not like we have not had spots to fill. Manly got themselves a goal kicking winger as soon as Dessie arrived. 12-0 last night and it is a different game. They were park footy kicks.

I know ours occasionally nail a goal line kick, but we miss so many easy shots. Pot shots. And we never look confident kicking. It is not that hard...no other team in the history of the game has gone half a decade without a regular kicker. None. Yet we have not prioritised it. Almost incomprehensible.

Actually, make that **completely incomprehensible.**

While I am at it...has it also ever crossed anyone at the club's mind that, when we are struggling and heads are down behind the posts....that a captain who could rev them all up might help? Having vets who stare into space after tries and do not say a strong word...maybe we need a captain who can actually motivate out there? Works for the Sharks.

Just a thought...but maybe a goal kicker who turns 4 into a 6 regularly... and a captain who can lead and motivate would help.

And, yeah, I know these are 'revolutionary ideas' that no one has ever heard of. At least at our club. But 6 is more than 4 ...and a leader can actually lead.

Completely agree this is just poor recruiting in prior seasons or nil development players with above goal kicking averages, as for the Captain there is no inspirational leader at present, although Mybe is not worthy of either.

Recruiting we should be looking at a Senior respected player and make them Captain, plus a goal kicker as priorities this recruiting period.
If they can't do that we will continue to have no on field leadership and limit our opportunities to win the close games because of poor goal kicking.

 

[happy_tiger]

In my opinion you could add about 14 players

 

[izotope]

Just to throw the match into the hay bale

**Proof that NRL goalkickers are crucial — and you can’t win a comp going up by fours**
Cameron Smith leads the NRL this season in kicking percentage.
In the last decade, one in three NRL matches have been decided by 6 points or less.
The fact that 32.25% of games finish so closely points to the importance of a reliable goal-kicker.

Often considered a ‘bonus’, goalkicking is a crucial skill that is undervalued.

The ability to strike above 80% is an underpriced commodity, and therefore delivers significant value at minimal cost.

There is a reason why Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire won a premiership at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. That is, his acute attention to detail.