Exactly this, we haven't been able to control territory effectively unless we have managed to get to the opposition 20 before the last play. The kick percentages from conversions and penalties has been alright from all the players I listed before.

Even when a high bomb has been put up on our last play a lot of the time it's not looked like it has gone where the chasers have expected it to go so the chasers have seemed unsure about the gaps they are leaving in defence.

Best not to mention drop goals but the main culprit for fluffing them last season has gone back to Australia.

Tbh I'm not expecting a whole lot of a short kicking game in 2019....

Training has been very slick with ball in hand and most of everything is coming through Austin... and at lightening speed. Touches I've not seen since Bridge was playing the right channel with Briers.

Charnley is going to have a field day.

Just watched the 2009 challenge cup, really mad seeing Briers play. Constant threat, taking on the line, changing the type of kicks he does, cleaver Grubbers etc
Plus monaghan passing long balls, missing players and passing past the first man, don't see that anymore. All Hookers i see now a days only ever seem to pass to the first player near them, rarely see cut out passes from us. The team was so in tune it's awesome to watch. Defensively not good to see but the attacking side was smooth and free flowing and everybody seemed to know where everyone was. Gonna buy the 2010 final aswell and get that watched. Good old days

But we're not, are we.
We have a list of people who CAN kick goals, but they're not goalkickers, per se.

Mark my words, (unfortunately) this will [ifind us out[/i on at least 2 or 3 occasions, next season.

A goal kicker SHOULD have been a priority on our shopping list

One we'll have to completely disagree on then.
I'll have a shilling with you that whoever Wire choose for GK's....if we combine their tallies, it'll come to at least in the top 3 of any other team in the league.

There’s been a similar debate amongst Leeds fans since Sinfield left that we need to sign a goal kicker.

Two issues though is that firstly their isn’t many quality GK’s around. Secondly you can’t just sign somebody for their goal kicking alone, their all around game has to deliver as much as their goal kicking.

No problem, duckie

I don't dispute the fact that the total amount of kicks we accumulate, will be near the top. We're one of the better SL side, hence we'll have plenty of attempts.

My issue is were we lose a couple of games by missing kicks that a recognised kicker will get 95% of the time.
It's ok the kicker of the day getting 5 out of 6 successes, when the game is out of sight. It's the games we lose by a handful of points, and that day's kicker can't find his own backside with a map and searchlight.
Don't believe me? Look at 1992/3. We lost/drew several games by a few points, and our kickers were Chris Rudd and Bob Jackson. We finished 8th.
Two months later, we sign Johnnie Davies and we end the following season on the same points as the he champions. Coincidence?. No.

My only solution to goal kicking. Designate a kicker, and have him practice, practice, practice, an hour a day.
Have a couple of understudies, and have them do some practicing too

Hang on LG he didn’t just improve our goal kicking!!!

Well you saved me the explanation.
100% that.
Sinfield would have walked into 13 or 6 at any team, other than Wigan, even if he couldn't kick.
You don't carry kickers.
Last season we got into both finals without a prolific kicker and never lost either game on kicking.

To move this "old" debate on. We need to have a shopping list of exceptional kickers who we might track down when we have salary cap space. I think the plan last year was to have Roberts as first choice then Goodwin as No.2. This went wrong when Roberts had an early injury (which stopped him kicking) and Goodwin got the "yips". Most kickers get the "yips" at times ... but some only last a game or two. So first question ... who would be on a hypothetical shopping list?

None.... you can't have enough props...however if he kicks goals that's a Brucie bonus!!

Ratchford Goodwin Patton Charnley are all around 70-80% successful kickers.
If we want to pinch more percentage we only need to remind scorers where possible to come in nearer the sticks...it really is that simple and a whole lot cheaper than buying a 80-90%% kicker...who probably only has that stat because of considerate try scorers anyway.

I've compiled these from last seasons stats. Below I've included a couple of ex-players taken from an average of two consecutive seasons for rough comparison.

Patton 89% from 19 kicks
Gale 87% from 55
Connor 87% from 65
Ryan Shaw 86% from 65
Roberts 83% from 35
Hampshire 82% from 74
Sneyd 76% from 67
Tomkins 75% from 125
...
Ratch 75% from 36
...
Livett 72% from 18
...
Goodwin 59% from 49

Brett Hodgson 76% from 87


*edit - Connor is 87% not 89% as I originally put.

I suspect the 4 shirt retained by Atkins doesn't necessarily reflect Prices ideal starting 13 but is more of a respect thing in Ryan's testimonial year. Surprised Currie has kept the 11 shirt also as I don't think we will be seeing him until the back end of next season. Personally I wouldn't like to see him until the season after. too many times ben has rushed back only for the same thing to happen again.

I cant believe i'm going to say this but maybe Patton is the answer to both our problems... his tactical kicking is the best in the current squad of players and he's the most natural goal kicker in the team... for these reasons he'd be starting at 7 for me ahead of Brown....

His main issue seems to be lack of consistency... fantastic one week, invisible the next.. reminds me of a certain someone in his earlier pre-Tony Smith days (but not as good obviously ha ha)