Our kicking game

[hybrid_tiger]

IMO our kicking game remains our chief concern.

So far we have played two trial games and Moltzen has not made a single general play kick during a game. Yet in the warm up before the match he is out there practicing long field kicks with Benji and Farah?

Note that I am not bagging Moltzen or suggesting he not play halfback, because obviously he has been directed by the coaching staff not to do any kicking. I find this puzzling though.

Against the Eels I thought Benji kicked superbly, but his kicking against the Roosters on Sat night was pretty poor. Often kicked straight down the fullback/wingers throat.

I said this previously that I think the Marshall/Moltzen halves combination will work well so long as Benji plays well, but if he has an off day I think we will struggle. Moltzen doesn't do any kicking, nor has he shown that he will run to the line himself and put the defense in two minds, like Lui used to do.

I honestly thought Lui was our most reliable general play kicker last season, Farah and Benji can both kick well but they can also kick erratically. Is anyone else concerned by this?
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[tiga4eva]

I thought Marshalls short kicking game was good. We got at least 3 repeat sets. In all the games he's played at 7 I can't recall Moltz kicking in general play. Benji has improved in the past 2 seasons and if he can master the spiral bomb we now have a genuine target in Tedesco. I think were fine.
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[baku]

Yes, I am too worried about our kiciking game, have been ever since Prince left the tigers in 05.

I blame our poor kicking game for the end of season losses over the last two years;

2010) Kicking the ball our on the full, thus giving the Dragons field position for the winning field goal;

2011) Not kicking into the corner to make the Warriors work the ball out, instead negelcting to kick and turining the ball over, again giving our opponents good field position to secure the winning points.

BEFORE I get blasted, I do realise that other factors contributed to our losses, eg last year had Moltzen placed a hnd on Inu, or had Tuqiri caught the ball, etc, etc, but I do believe that our poor kicking game has let us down in the past and unless it is addressed, it may well be our downfall again in 2012….

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I thought Marshalls short kicking game was good.

I was referring more to our long kicking game.

There were a couple of times against the Roosters we didn't make too many metres in a set and were forced to kick from well within our own half, Benji kicked it straight to the fullback or winger on all these occasions.

Just really think we need a third kicking option to take some pressure off Benji and Farah when it comes to kicking for field position.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Kicking games take a few weeks to get there… I'd prefer to wait a few rounds before worrying about this part of our game.

Is anyone aware if Tedesco has a long kicking game?

 

[tiga4eva]

Fair point Hybrid. Lui did assume a fair amount of the kicking last year. Wonder if Moltz will pick up Lui's share.
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[2041]

I tend to agree that it's up there among my concerns. But it's worth throwing into the mix the fact that Farah should be much more able to kick this season assuming his injury really is a thing of the past.

I'd say my concerns, in some kind of order, are:
1) Lack of depth at prop especially given inevitable injuries. I don't want to see Blair or Ellis wasted at prop because we haven't got anyone else to put there.
2) Pace out wide in the absence of Tuqiri/Tuqiri's prospects of an extended injury break.
3) Defence around the ruck post-Gibbs.
4) Kicking game especially re Moltzen.
5) The usual: injury to key playmaker. I can't bring myself to be more precise than that.

 

[barra]

I also think it is a concern. Kicking in general play is an aspect of Miller's game that would have been welcome.

I remember Moltzen kicking once - a beautiful high spiral bomb at Leichhardt - but that has been it although he is said to have a good boot.

I think he will have to start to kick at some stage if he holds down the 7 and plays on the other side of the ruck to Benji.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I tend to agree that it's up there among my concerns. But it's worth throwing into the mix the fact that Farah should be much more able to kick this season assuming his injury really is a thing of the past.

I'd say my concerns, in some kind of order, are:
1) Lack of depth at prop especially given inevitable injuries. I don't want to see Blair or Ellis wasted at prop because we haven't got anyone else to put there.
2) Pace out wide in the absence of Tuqiri/Tuqiri's prospects of an extended injury break.
3) Defence around the ruck post-Gibbs.
4) Kicking game especially re Moltzen.
5) The usual: injury to key playmaker. I can't bring myself to be more precise than that.

You've summed up our issues well. I still think we are a prop short, and without Lote we do lack pace on the wings.

 

[tri-serra-tops]

I reckon the that the only 'kicking' players should be Benji & Robbie. Moltzen's boot isn't one if his strengths and although he wears the 7 and traditionally the halfback organises and puts boot to ball, we aren't a 'traditional' team. If we play 'off the cuff' footy then most of our backs have played long enough with robbie and benji to know when certain plays are on.
I believe we will utilise the 'bomb' a whole lot more this season. Ryan and Ayshford will go close to being top tryscorers this season. Both bagging plenty of four pointers from running and kicking plays.
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[Pokies]

I tend to agree that it's up there among my concerns. But it's worth throwing into the mix the fact that Farah should be much more able to kick this season assuming his injury really is a thing of the past.

I'd say my concerns, in some kind of order, are:
1) Lack of depth at prop especially given inevitable injuries. I don't want to see Blair or Ellis wasted at prop because we haven't got anyone else to put there.
2) Pace out wide in the absence of Tuqiri/Tuqiri's prospects of an extended injury break.
3) Defence around the ruck post-Gibbs.
4) Kicking game especially re Moltzen.
5) The usual: injury to key playmaker. I can't bring myself to be more precise than that.

Hit the nail on the head right there regarding our concerns for 2012.
Regarding the kicking issue, i believe that we have to have Moltzen at least be involved in the kicking game as it keeps the defence honest by having kicking options on both sides of the play the ball. Otherwise the fullback will just cheat to the side of the field Benji is standing on which in the past has usually been the left. The left is also the side Robbie kicks to out of dummy half so we definitely need Moltzen to give us another option on the right side.
On a side note regarding the kicking game, last year when we got inside the opponents 20m we went for the kick option too often early in the tackle count. Has this occurred again in the trials this year?

 

[Blackandwhite]

Moltzen isn't as good as Lui in the kicking department just yet but he will get there.

We will have 4 kickers in the team this year but a couple will need time to find their feet.

Benji is obviously number 1 then Robbie from dummy half. Moltzen is improving, he has been practising his kicking game at training and Tedesco if he gets a start also has a kicking game.

 

[2041]

Moltzen isn't as good as Lui in the kicking department just yet but he will get there.

We will have 4 kickers in the team this year but a couple will need time to find their feet.

Benji is obviously number 1 then Robbie from dummy half. Moltzen is improving, he has been practising his kicking game at training and Tedesco if he gets a start also has a kicking game.

I didn't see either of the trials but if it's true that Moltzen didn't kick at all I'm be a bit concerned about. Surely if he's both practicing and improving he ought to be testing his kicking out in the trial environment? If he's really not sufficiently confident/competent to risk it even in a trial I have to say I'm doubtful about whether this kicking game is suddenly going to emerge in the regular season.

 

[Guest]

Valid concerns Hybrid. This is the main issue with Moltzen at the moment, in the sense that there are not too many halfbacks out there, if any, who do not possess or have a kicking game. Benji and Robbie can be hot and cold, when they're hot the Tigers win, when they find the fullback on a regular basis we struggle. I hope Moltzen starts to show a kicking game as the season goes because Benji and Robbie do need a third option.

Miller can certainly kick, but I do think Moltzen is the better overall choice at 7 at this stage, his running game is better and he's more suited defensively to handle things. Chisholm wasn't too bad kicking for BRET, he landed a 40/20 in the second half against Newtown and is pretty good defensively. I daresay I'd almost run him ahead of Miller if Moltzen is injured.

 

[tig_prmz]

I tend to agree that it's up there among my concerns. But it's worth throwing into the mix the fact that Farah should be much more able to kick this season assuming his injury really is a thing of the past.

I'd say my concerns, in some kind of order, are:
1) Lack of depth at prop especially given inevitable injuries. I don't want to see Blair or Ellis wasted at prop because we haven't got anyone else to put there.
2) Pace out wide in the absence of Tuqiri/Tuqiri's prospects of an extended injury break.
3) Defence around the ruck post-Gibbs.
4) Kicking game especially re Moltzen.
5) The usual: injury to key playmaker. I can't bring myself to be more precise than that.

KABOOM!
we'll score a lot of points this year, but I'm scared we're gonna get scored against a lot as well.. just like every year.

 

[cktiger]

Don't think you'll find too many Dragons supporters asking why Hornby doesn't kick more and take the pressure off Soward.
There are plenty of other teams where the half is not necessarily the chief kicker.
If Moltzen isn't kicking it's because he's been told not to.
Who knows what's in Sheens head - he might unleash him once the season starts or he might just tell him to continue shovelling it to Marshall. 😕

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Soward's long kicking game is probably the best in the NRL, so I can see why Hornby wouldn't kick.

We don't have that luxury: while Benji and Farah can kick well at times they would be what I would describe as inconsistent.

Note that I'm specifically talking about long kicking, not short attacking kicks. My concern is that when we have made little meters in a set and need to kick our way out of trouble for field position, I'm not sure Marshall or Farah are consistently good enough with the boot to get us out of trouble.

Just would be nice to have another option. I can't understand why Moltzen is out there in the warm up kicking but does not do it during a match.
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[Sully]

He doesnt need to kick with Farah and Benji in the side.

We are in a trial so why show everyone your tricks early. I watched him warm up at Campbelltown and he can kick long, high and along the ground well.

If he runs the team around well then he has done his job and if Benji puts them through the hole then no need to kick.

Solid start bring on Round 1

 

[hybrid_tiger]

He doesnt need to kick with Farah and Benji in the side.

Yes, I think he does.

I watched him warm up at Campbelltown and he can kick long, high and along the ground well.

But why doesn't he do this during the game? I am not having a go at him, because it's obviously a coaching directive. I'd be really interested to hear from Sheens, but no one in the media would be insightful enough to pose the question.

If he runs the team around well then he has done his job and if Benji puts them through the hole then no need to kick

As I said earlier, there is a need when we are in our own half and need to kick for field position.

 

[happy_tiger]

Well there is one thing about our kicking game It is either good or bad

When it is good we are very good

When it is bad we really struggle

It will be one area we will really miss Rob Lui