What a player. Kicking goals from all over, timing his runs superbly and able to pass the ball like it's a grenade with the pin pulled. It does seem that now opponents have to be aware of Austin it is buying Ratchford a bit more time/space, much like Hodgson benefitted from Briers et al.

His pass for Goodwin's try was sublime, and the flick pass for Hughes was exceptional. [iStill[/i the best FB in the comp.

Glad we found a goal kicker were happy to stick with been a long time coming

Amazing the difference that practicing makes. I can't believe that other teams haven't thought of it before we did. They're really missing the trick.

Great player. One of our golden players you would hate to see leave and the way he has improved his kicking deserves credit.

His kicking must be giving us about 3/4 extra points a game on average compared to last season. Could make a huge difference.

...and all those post saying we should sign a kicker?

[Shakes head

Not me I've always had faith in Ratch. Great player and this season even better. Doubters now seeing what I've always seen

Said no one, ever.

Presume you would be backing Ben Barba...

What’s his kicking success rate so far this season? Does anyone know? Must be high 80’s...

83.9% (87 attempts)

Coote 69.8% (73)
Sneyd 78.8% (66)
Tomkins 76.7% (60)
Hardaker 76.5% (51)
Brough 82.7% (52)
Inu 91.7% (24)
Shaw 90.5% (21)
Russel 90% (20)

Thought it might have been a touch higher. Still good stats though.

Is that league and cup or just league?

What has happened to Cooooooote the superstar?

Just the league

So now we’re comparing fullbacks based on their kicking success rate. Christ.

It we compare rugby talent. Coote is miles off.

Miles off?? Lord I'm a wire fan and I'd take Coote over Ratchford as a full back. You may think rugby skills = silky hands but Coote has far more between the ears and is a much better last line of defence.

Coote the NRL regular who played a vital part in a grand final winning team or the utility player who is only now first choice fullback because the standard of super league has dropped significantly? I’m picking Coote every time.

Ratchford’s a good player but he’s levels below Coote, everyone saw that when we played you. Only have to look at their try involvements as well, Ratchford 8 (4 try’s, 4 assists) whereas Coote is on 21 (8 try’s, 13 assists).

Coote isn't half the player Barba was....and I wouldn't had swapped Ratchford for him.

Then you’ve lost the plot, both are miles better than Ratchford. 8 try involvements in 15 games is really poor.

There's 3 types of lies.
Lies, damn lies and stats.

To be fair Ratchford was missing a few last year and then came out with the "practicing makes me worse" comment. We lost a number of games on goals so surely it was logical to think we needed a more reliable kicker. This season it appears that Ratchford has found a way to increase his success rate and become the reliable kicker that we wanted.

However I do bow to your majestic predictions. I mean last season we were all saying we were a halfback short and you proved us all wrong.

i would LOVE to see him moved away from fullback.. A position he originally never wanted but was forced into by Smith.

Great with the ball.... awful at defending the line...... In the past, his performances in the halves lacked assertion. Something he may well now have.

I would play him and Austin in the halves for the rest of the season... Play Someone else at 1. (probably mamo)

If we want to achieve anything this season that is our only option. I cannot possibly see how having Ratch at half with Austin can be any worse than the status quo.