Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 6:25 pm  

Apologies in advance as this has become something of a broken record but today could have been a little more comfortable had we been able to convert our try’s.

In the big games it can often be the difference between winning and losing.

Something that needs to be taken into account when bringing in new players for 2023 as despite the efforts of Briers we are still struggling.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 6:35 pm  

And if the ref had gone to the screen to check onside/offside it would have been very comfortable

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 6:50 pm  

before today smith was the highest % kicker in the league

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 6:59 pm  

Pieman wrote:

before today smith was the highest % kicker in the league

Different when the pressure is on….

It remains an issue for me.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 7:04 pm  

Bearing in mind he was kicking off the wrong touchline for a left footed kicker, with a surface that sloped off to the side so he wasn't exactly getting a run up on even footing, Smith didn't do too badly.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 7:05 pm  

CM Punk wrote:

Bearing in mind he was kicking off the wrong touchline for a left footed kicker, with a surface that sloped off to the side so he wasn't exactly getting a run up on even footing, Smith didn't do too badly.

Not a criticism of Smith to be honest, he did his best but not convinced he’s the long term answer.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 8:42 pm  

Smiths kicking great this year.

When we people understand that you don’t sign a goal kicker. You sign a team and the best member of the team at goal kicking kicks.

Simple as that.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 8:45 pm  

Smith is a much better goal kicker than Hardaker, who would have been kicking if he was still at Wigan.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 9:10 pm  

NSW wrote:

Smiths kicking great this year.

When we people understand that you don’t sign a goal kicker. You sign a team and the best member of the team at goal kicking kicks.

Simple as that.

I agree with this, I don’t think many people would want Wigan to sign a player purely based on goal kicking alone.

Be interesting to see if Smith goes on to be our long term goal kicker now….I just wasn’t confident he was kicking those opportunities today.

Re: Goal Kicking : Sat May 07, 2022 9:57 pm  

NSW wrote:

Smiths kicking great this year.

When we people understand that you don’t sign a goal kicker. You sign a team and the best member of the team at goal kicking kicks.

Simple as that.

Yeah, Jamie Foster from memory has one of if not the best kicking percentage in Super League but even though playing out on the wing was not deemed good enough to be carried for his kicking alone, I think us fans dwell on missed kicks a lot more than we should do.