Meh, always gonna be a massive drop off in reliability. He's only going to learn from mistakes / experience.

I'd blame our inability to capitalise on our overwhelming dominance in the first half, but hey! It's game one... We're building for bigger battles ahead and it's a long way till the end of the season.

Relax.

Lilley should be kicking. Can't see Mac starting him though. It took Singo and Ward a good few years to gain his trust. Lilley should get a run

very strange... its almost like "sinfield was holding us back with his kicking every penalty mentality"

so you decided to not kick for the 2, when in the past, its been an obvious tactic.

For as long as I have known in this game, the captain will always ask the kicker "can you kick it" before making a decision to take the two.

We haven't needed to do that for 15 years, and that system broke down tonight. Hardaker had already clearly indicated to run the ball, before Burrow told him to go for goal. The doubt was already in Hardakers mind before he made a pigs ear of the last penalty.

They urgently need to review that failing as a team, while we continue to try and develop a new regular goalkicker. Confidence and composure in that situation is everything.

Aye lad, aye.

An' just wait till new southstand is built with seats, eh?

No atmosphere = another 6 points worse off.

At least!

hardakers kick though under pressure

Hes got a cannon of a foot. It needs an awful lot of practice though.

As for whether he wanted it or not, if he's going to be goal kicker, he's got to take those on, and let's face it he should've done better.

Might be just the "reality check" that Hardaker needs after the huge success of last season with the treble, man of steel and internationals and might focus him better.

The most disappointing aspect of Hardaker's play isn't his goal kicking, it's the fact he gets tackled with the ball far too often. His decision making in attack still needs a lot of improvement.

The problem Hardaker has is that you feel he wants to be kicker (and captain) because he loves the spotlight, not because he's good enough for either role. TBF he has apparently practised a lot in the pre-season and Sutcliffe's knee injury must've reduced his practise time significantly, but he doesn't look to have taken any of Sinfield's style on board (lifts his head unlike Sinfield) and just goes for the smash them route.

I can understand the stance of Hardaker stays kicking even when Lilley is on because Lilley won't be on that often so Hardaker needs to stick at the role.....but personally I would let Lilley kick when he does play even if it's cameo appearances.

Good ol' Southstander! One narrow loss and the daggers are out.....
For one of our own!

I think Whoever will be long term kicker need at Least 3 seasons to become Sinfield level. Maybe longer.

How's about for once can we not hammer said player till the cows come home.

I hope to christ this isnt a thread that goes on and on.

Zak's not Kev. Zak for whatever reason has been given the job by Mac.

Deal with it. Shut the f*ck up.

He gonna miss a ton more before we see a marked improvement.

"the smash them route" is how ZH plays his whole game. I too can understand the logic of selecting a new kicker who you would expect to start most games. None of the other candidates tick this box yet. However I do not believe a SL game is where you learn the technique of how to kick as this should be done on the training field.

Burrow was right to call for taking the 2 points - shame Hardaker isn't good enough. Lilley should have been a starter based on current form and should take the kicks.

It appears Zak has an RLFANS account. Rein that temper in Zak...Stay away from the red.


Last night we had a problem with goal kicking - this is a forum to discuss said topics - deal with it and stfu!

3 Games without Sir Kev last season:

Vs Wigan - 5 Tries - 3 Sutcliffe conversions

Vs Catalan - 7 Tries - 5 Sutcliffe conversions

Vs Cas - 5 Tries - 3 Sutcliffe conversions


Point being - Sutcliffe is the 1st choice kicker and his stats are not that bad given age and time in the role.

It's entirely possible Zak was kicker elect last night because he outperforms Lilley at the task under practice conditions. Unless someone on here's privy to the club's training and knows different?