Ratchford`s goal kicking hasn`t always been as superb as it is now.

Prior to Wire bringing a specialist RU goalkicking coach it was virtually as inconsistent as we are now seeing from Thewlis and Hayes.

If Ratchford isn`t able to pass his goalkicking skills on to our younger kickers, then the club needs to bring in a goal kicking coach again.

Then, like Wigan did with Smith, we persevere with Thewlis/Hayes as goalkicker - if in their pursuit of excellence we lose some close games then we suck it up.

Also worth noting that Ratchford bottled a high pressure yet routine kick at goal. Still think he'd be shaky with a pressure kick.

Fair enough. Yes that was sad to see, he clearly bottled it didn't he.

This is very true, he was a bit so-so for a long time, then became very consistent. Maybe get the same RU goalkicking coach back for Thewlis/Hayes et al.

I’ll stand by my statement.
Goalkickers rarely lose you a game, but they can occasionally win you one.

The percentage opportunity of kicks comes from tries and poor discipline.
And that is predominantly where games are won and lost.

We are not playing Rugby Union.
.

Quote: wirecation "My view of King is that he looked fairly ordinary on sunday. Yes he takes the ball up a lot but i haven't seen much creativity from him. ie line breaks, offloads to his winger, running decent lines. If we want him just as a battering ram we may as well move him into the second row.'" https://twitter.com/WarringtonRLFC/stat ... gX75A&s=19

Quote: wirecation "My view of King is that he looked fairly ordinary on sunday. Yes he takes the ball up a lot but i haven't seen much creativity from him. ie line breaks, offloads to his winger, running decent lines. If we want him just as a battering ram we may as well move him into the second row.'" https://twitter.com/WarringtonRLFC/stat ... gX75A&s=19

I think as much as anything it shows how much Matty Ashton has developed notwithstanding the level of opposition.

Maybe but as we saw in the 2009 challenge cup final, Huddersfield had been famed for their compact swarming defence, once it was shown we had the nous to go over and around them they had to adjust accordingly, taking them out of their game plan.

You might not get a try every week but no one was expecting king to kick that, it'll catch some compressed defences out

Looks a natural fit on the wing doesn't he.

Ashton is brilliant. Doesn't get the hype of Johnstone, but I'd think he's pushing him to join Young as England winger.

England/GB have a wealth of wingers.
From Young and Johnstone to Makinson and Charnley (who is back to his old self and enjoying his rugby), not forgetting Hall, Tom Davis as well as Ashton.
Im happy Ashton is at Wire though.

Johnstone is a very good winger, but I actually think Ashton has a slightly better all round game. He's faster too.

I wouldn't swap Ashton for any winger in super league. And if we put him up for sale EVERY club would try and sign him. An absolute class act.

Are you saying that when under pressure he couldn't hit a green door with a banjo?