I was wondering recentley exactley what was the proiblem with BOTICA? e.g. in 1994/95 he was the top goal kicker and in 1995/96 he was not in the squad! i heard a roumer a while ago that he was in the 1995/96 team but broke his leg and wigan basicley said go away in english! as the next season he played for castleford and ORRELL

didn't he play for auckland warriors in 95/96 before coming back to Cas ?

Quote ="florimo"didn't he play for auckland warriors in 95/96 before coming back to Cas ?'" Thats right. He joined Auckland during their inaugral season under John Monie (whilst it was off season here) but intended to return to Wigan. Quote “I thought it would be good to return home, I played five games for the Warriors and then broke my leg. I ran straight into Mark Geyer and he just smashed me,” said Botica. A few days earlier Wigan had sent a contract for me to sign, but I decided to sign it after the weekend , and I broke my leg”. '" So the broken leg put paid to his Wigan career. He hadn't signed a contract before breaking his leg and thus the deal was over. Pure bad luck. After 6 months out........ Quote At 33 years of age, Castleford decided they would take a chance and signed him to a three-year deal. “ I spent six months on the sideline and played 18 months for Castleford before Welsh Rugby Union club Llanelli bought out my final year at Castleford,” said Frano. Rugby Union had just turned professional but Botica’s two year deal only lasted six months because Llanelli went broke. After stints with Waikoto Chiefs ( New Zealand ), Castre ( France ), North Harbour ( New Zealand ), Biarritz ( France ) and Tour ( France ), Boyica called it quits in 2002 at the tender age of 38. He returned to New Zealand and is currently a director of Proxis, a corporate training company that helps with cultural changes in companies.He is currently not involved with either Rugby code, as work and being a single father to his three children ( Chante 17, Ben 15 and Jacob 12 ) keeps him busy. “ My children are my main focus but I would love to get involved in some way in the future,” said Botica.. '" From - www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176

Quote ="florimo"didn't he play for auckland warriors in 95/96 before coming back to Cas ?'" Thats right. He joined Auckland during their inaugral season under John Monie (whilst it was off season here) but intended to return to Wigan. Quote “I thought it would be good to return home, I played five games for the Warriors and then broke my leg. I ran straight into Mark Geyer and he just smashed me,” said Botica. A few days earlier Wigan had sent a contract for me to sign, but I decided to sign it after the weekend , and I broke my leg”. '" So the broken leg put paid to his Wigan career. He hadn't signed a contract before breaking his leg and thus the deal was over. Pure bad luck. After 6 months out........ Quote At 33 years of age, Castleford decided they would take a chance and signed him to a three-year deal. “ I spent six months on the sideline and played 18 months for Castleford before Welsh Rugby Union club Llanelli bought out my final year at Castleford,” said Frano. Rugby Union had just turned professional but Botica’s two year deal only lasted six months because Llanelli went broke. After stints with Waikoto Chiefs ( New Zealand ), Castre ( France ), North Harbour ( New Zealand ), Biarritz ( France ) and Tour ( France ), Boyica called it quits in 2002 at the tender age of 38. He returned to New Zealand and is currently a director of Proxis, a corporate training company that helps with cultural changes in companies.He is currently not involved with either Rugby code, as work and being a single father to his three children ( Chante 17, Ben 15 and Jacob 12 ) keeps him busy. “ My children are my main focus but I would love to get involved in some way in the future,” said Botica.. '" From - www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176

Quote ="Bilko"Thats right. He joined Auckland during their inaugral season under John Monie (whilst it was off season here) but intended to return to Wigan. So the broken leg put paid to his Wigan career. He hadn't signed a contract before breaking his leg and thus the deal was over. Pure bad luck. After 6 months out........ From - www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176'" Wondering if he'd make a good coach of ANY sort. Obviously kicking coach but would that not just a luxury?

Quote ="Bilko"Thats right. He joined Auckland during their inaugral season under John Monie (whilst it was off season here) but intended to return to Wigan. So the broken leg put paid to his Wigan career. He hadn't signed a contract before breaking his leg and thus the deal was over. Pure bad luck. After 6 months out........ From - www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176'" Wondering if he'd make a good coach of ANY sort. Obviously kicking coach but would that not just a luxury?

And Botica was a top goal kicker when the pitches were full of mud, unlike these days

Did anybody else master the moulding of the sand (with two thumb prints on the top) , the exact steps backwards, the two to the side, the breathing in from the nose and out through the mouth and finally the flickering fingers around the genetal area?

Me neither....

I had this conversation quite recently with a mate of mine about hiring specialist coaches. We've had some of the best players that the game has ever seen in the Wigan sides of years gone by and I think a few of them would certainly help out a few of our lads for a couple of sessions.

Frano Botica as a kicking coach for Pat Richards and Amos Roberts for a couple of sessions giving out a few tips. Can't do any harm can it?

Master it? - no. Try it a million and one times on the old practice pitch next to CP? - yes

Frano Botica wasn't a recognised goalkicker when he signed for Wigan.

Dave Alred (ex American Football specialist kicker and Sheffield Eagles' winger, plus more recently goalkicking coach to Johnny Wilkinson) worked with Frano to turn him into an accomplished kicker.

Botica stated at the end of his Wigan career that he saw becoming a good goalkicker as the only way of forcing his way into the team at that time.

I just tried searching for him on You Tube and although there's no footage of him playing, there is a documentary that he partly presents. It's regards to his Croatian roots in New Zealand.

Ahh the days of scoring a try in the corner, then chanting 6-0 before the kick was taken.....................

But we have Paaaaaaaaaaaaaat

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That's like comparing a BMW to a Rolls Royce.

As much I like Pat he wasn't a patch on Botica. Nobody was.

...Then again, it would have been intresting to see Jim Sullivan have a pop with fancy Mizuno boots, a Puma manufactured ball and sand/kicking tee.

I know but its better than having a Volkswagen Golf (Long)

Pat Richards can do something Frano could never do.

Search Pat Richards 90m Line Dropout

Nothing comes up, terrible prompt !

See the edit.

Just search Pat Richards.

After seeing Pat miss a couple of kicks on Saturday, I mentioned to my son that Botica, even though a round the corner style kicker like Richards, kept the ball in a straight line so it didn't matter which touchline he kicked from.
My dad told me that it was claimed that Jim Sullivan could hit the upright with 2 out of 3 kicks close to the posts. The press came down to witness this ability ande he hit it with all three!

This was rumoured when he signed. Not seen one yet!

Hit's just past half way but 90m (full length of pitch)? ....No Way!!!

Search it on youtube. He did it at the world cup.

It first bounced on the 60m line