Quote: Grimmy "Has anyone else noticed that when we're 25-40 metres out on 5th we seem to stick bombs up to the wing 20 metres out? We've done it a few times so I'm assuming it's deliberate. Can anyone explain the idea behind this to me? Even when we catch it we still have to beat the defensive line, if we don't catch it we have given them unneccesary metres. Personally I'd prefer us to try to force drop puts with grubber kicks but we seldom seem to attempt that since Leuluai left'"
Any modern day fullback will tell you that most of the time he expects the ball in the air aimed in his direction on the 5th tackle , what they do not like is the grubber kick along the floor which is timed to make it a 50-50 ball between the fullback and the chasing defenders.
The fullback knows he has to go down to get the ball which leaves him open to a good kicking if he and the opposition arrive at the ball at the same time, but Wigan's last tackle kicking is so stereotyped it is hard to believe at times.
Bill Ashurst had it off to a tee, he used to put a grubber through sometimes on the halfway line, you could see his thinking, he would chase after his kick and God help anyone who got is his way.