They seemed to be too far to get any kick pressure and always found the man waiting to catch it. Never made it hard to deal with. Second half was great. That 40/20 was beautiful

He rarely kicked straight to hands. His first half was different to simply establish field position.
His short kicks worked better close to the line.

He is also working to the team strengths.
It might not work the same for a team like ours
We have fast wingers so good passing is the key to our game.
With tall, well muscled wingers like they have, getting a 1-1 on the air is perfect tactics.

He's an absolutely top class kicker. Probably the best in SL.

He doesn't seem to need to put much effort into it either. His 40-20 was hardly noticeable as he looked like he was just dropping it over the top but it went right to the flag.
I guess it's like a golf swing. If you have the technique you don't need as much power and you keep your accuracy.

The last player who I saw who kicked that effortlessly was Nigel Wright. He used to kick 40/20s when they din't even exist. He kicked that far for territory and the chance to win a contested scrum - it's a natural gift imho and very rare.

Against the Aussies I see a great kicking game as possibly the only chance we have of breaking them down. Nothing frustrates the Aussies more than not having the ball in hand as much as they like. Kick them to death, they won't like it.

We need the best kicker Vs the Aussies as we'll find it harder to get in a position to make an attacking kick. Someone that can kick long is essential.

That's what makes his goal kicking so good I think. Alot of kickers almost struggle to reach the posts from the touch line and have to try to kick the skin off the ball just to get it there. Sneyd just has such easy power, it doesn't matter where he is on the pitch he just strokes it and it flies and flies. Superb technique.

Indeed - I wish Eddie would mention it more often.

Anyhow - I agree with Vasty - on the international stage, Sneyd is probably the better option; his skillset is much more suited to the very few chinks in the Aussies armour - although he'd probably find himself making those snap kicks more often than he does in SL.

having watched two close, high pressured semi-finals, it was noticeable that one scrum half turned up and won the game for his team, whilst the other was largely anonymous.

one had a perfect day with the boot, one missed a conversion which ultimately would have given his team a draw.

funny how different people re-act to pressure.

I like Sneyd but I think Gale is more versatile and should be better at International.
Sneyd is ahead of Williams though but obviously you have Widdop to consider too.

Gale over Sneyd for England. Sneyd is a great player but he does have a habit of disappearing in games, but then rescuing the game with a superb kick, whereas Gale is an ever-present thorn. He's shown he can handle the pressure, and even thrives on it. Sneyd seems to shrink in it sometimes. Gale will win the man of steel, has guided the team that came top by a long way, and took them to a grand final. It seems a no-brainer.

It's the three-quarter line where we are weak, and the Aussies are always strong.

Internationals are not the same as club games.

Both players will be out of their comfort zone with players they barely know. If people think Gale will be able to play for GB like he does for Cas they are in for a rude awakening.

One of the few things you can do at international level consistently is your tactical kicking. When you consider how we struggle to to gain territory let alone posession then Sneyd's kicking game is way more valuable than Gales more obvious dynamic play.

I realise our visiting Cas fan is understandably blinded by his loyalty to his teams players but everyone else needs to be more realistic.

Sneyd and Widdop ahead of Gale all day long for me.

You're not blinded by your pathological hatred of anything Cas, are you?

Gale by plenty.

So any Trinity/England fan who doesn't think Gale is the best choice has a pathological hatred for Cas? Certainly stifles any debate but that is fairly typical I suppose.

If it's any consolation it's purely academic as Wayne Bennett won't have any idea what to do with either of them.

I don't think we'll be kicking many GK's so that just leaves 40/20's I suppose