if we win does that make all decisons made correct? last season everyone was calling for SA to come in for roberts, even though we were winning most of the games in the second half of the season.

we were also playing fielden every game in those games, we were winning, but that didnt mean he deserved his place (BACK THEN)

if we believe we have nothing to improve on once we win, we wont be anywhere near OT come the end of the season. there is always something we can do to improve.

As long as he kicks the ones that matter, I don't care.

I think Madge will be thinking about this, as we'd have been a lot more comfortable in those last 10 minutes on Saturday had Pat made his kicks. I think his previous excellent form before last season will grant him a stay of execution and give him a chance to sort himself out, which he'll need to do pretty quickly with Deacon in the side

We have good cover but I would much rather have Pat kicking like he was at the back end of 2007 and 2008.

IMO if Richards carries on with this form, Deacon should kick when on the field.

speaking of making the game comfortable, how come when we're 6 points up with little time left, and we get to the 5th tackle about 10 metres out, did we not go for a drop goal - we were bang on square infront of the posts and chose to run the ball instead and failed to score. The cheesy 1 pointer to make you need 2 scores can be such a game breaker when it's tight, it really demoralises the opposition - just look at how well Long and Briers have used it over the years.

It went between the posts 2points

its good to have the option. keep the faith pat will boot them when we need them

Every game. I don't agree with mixing it up. Leave it to one man in my view.

There's always Roberts to fall back on if he can get his eye in, didn't he convert 9 on his NRL debut? Must be some kicking talent in there somewhere!

He didn't show it last year in Paaat's absence (6 goals from 13), same for Riddell (1 kick from 5). Phelps though might be the better 3rd choice behind Pat and Deacon (4 from 5 in his Wigan career). Hit a beauty off the touchline at Wakefield last month as well.

Well we won by 2 points, so we did win by a goal kick.. so on to next week with Pat as kicker.

Thank goodness it did! It was a simple conversion and he nearly made a hash out of it.

Well I would imagine Deacon will be involved in every game this season. (Providing he remains injury free).

I would do what is best for the team. If that means sharing the duties between Deacon and Richards, therefore taking the pressure of one individual (ala leadership team) then I would be all for it and not suprised to see it happen if Richards continues to hit below the 80% mark.

Im fairly sure Richards will come good with his kicking again. He puts in hours of practise.

Im not sure chopping and changing the kicker during games would benefit anyone.

IMO it's just his technique that needs work. When he was slotting them for fun he was consistantly striking the ball with a 'draw' - the ball swerves right-to-left in the air, the common practice for right footers. It seems that he is trying to 'fade' the ball between the posts (left-to-right) when kicking from the right-hand side and he's slicing it

Leave it with Richards for the time being.

Give it half a dozen games or so.


He is a class goalkicker. You don't suddenly not become one.

Watch Wembley 1985. Gill kicked three and Steveson one IIRC and it was all down to which side of the pitch the goal kick needed to be taken from.

Don't see a problem with that idea and if Pat favours one side over the other and we have a complimentary kicker for the other side I'd certainly go for it.

Dave

In previous season Richards was best at goal kicks from the left side of the posts where he could swing the ball from right to left. Kicking the ball this way opens up the angle of the posts making it easier.

However when he tries this on the right side of the posts it will create less of an angle as he swings the from right to left. But in recently his kicking technique seems to differ with every goal kick.

Deacon's technique of kicking is more straight, so maybe he could kick from the right and Pat from the left.

Listen to you lot lo!!!!

3 games in, 60% kicking rate - how many of our tries has Amos scored, on the wing!!!!

It's not just enough to say what the % conversions are you need to look where he is having to kick from.

Yeah, it's all Amos' fault. I new we could find a negative with him somewhere.

Bloody Hell Roberts

im with you on this 1 ,3 games in he ll get better . also the comment about letting him concentrate on his rugby i ve not seen him make any mistakes or ewt taking kicking off him might dent is confidence not make it better

can anyone tell me whar deacons stats were like in his last couple of seasons at bradford?
iirc he wasnt over brilliant

78.9% last season from Deacon, almost 83% in 2008

They should have a competition at training and the best one should be the kicker. The only problem is whether Deacon will be on the pitch in games.

His stats have been better than Richards' every season.