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butt monkey wrote:

Whelley Warrior wrote:

DaveO wrote: Yes he did. It also shows a coach will compromise to have a good kicker in his side. Frano had no chance getting into the side as a half back when he arrived here but his goal kicking got him a spot on the wing.

As I recall, it was reported that Botica was signed by the club against the wishes of the then Coach John Monie who wanted to sign a different player.

Phil Blake

Correct, but no prize!

Whelley Warrior wrote:

DaveO wrote:

cpwigan wrote:
....IIRC only really started place kicking when he came to Wigan in order to get in the team.

Yes he did. It also shows a coach will compromise to have a good kicker in his side. Frano had no chance getting into the side as a half back when he arrived here but his goal kicking got him a spot on the wing.

As I recall, it was reported that Botica was signed by the club against the wishes of the then Coach John Monie who wanted to sign a different player.

It was Phil Blake Monie wanted. Could not understand why Mo went for Botica when Blake was available. Great player Blake and a goal kicker as well I think but with hindsight we got great value from Botica.

You can certainly see that Johnny Wilkinson has been involved with Smith. totally different way he sets the ball up on the tee, exactly how biscuit shoulders used to do it. Need a better night than tonight to judge though.

The early miss was scary given how few points were going to be scored. Nice 40-20 though. Our short kicking game is fairly poop though; no need to kick it deep into the ingoal when you can slid the person stopping the ball yards in those conditions.

markill wrote:How many times have teams specifically gone out to buy a player because of his goal kicking ability? I'm guessing not a lot. I can't think of any in the Super League era.

Likewise. There are few kickers of Pat Richards quality in SL today and Pat was a bloody good winger.

Faz was captain and also a bloody good player. We have what we have!

Kittwazzer wrote:

markill wrote:How many times have teams specifically gone out to buy a player because of his goal kicking ability? I'm guessing not a lot. I can't think of any in the Super League era.

Likewise. There are few kickers of Pat Richards quality in SL today and Pat was a bloody good winger.

Faz was captain and also a bloody good player. We have what we have!

But what we have is not good enough. Neither Pat nor Botica were recognised goal kickers when they joined Wigan (can't remember if Faz had done it in his junior RL or not) but when given the job they perfected it. Botica practiced for hours on end.

Given how important it is shrugging the shoulders over the issue is what average teams would do.

DaveO wrote:

Kittwazzer wrote:

markill wrote:How many times have teams specifically gone out to buy a player because of his goal kicking ability? I'm guessing not a lot. I can't think of any in the Super League era.

Likewise. There are few kickers of Pat Richards quality in SL today and Pat was a bloody good winger.

Faz was captain and also a bloody good player. We have what we have!

But what we have is not good enough. Neither Pat nor Botica were recognised goal kickers when they joined Wigan (can't remember if Faz had done it in his junior RL or not) but when given the job they perfected it. Botica practiced for hours on end.

Given how important it is shrugging the shoulders over the issue is what average teams would do.

I agree, somebody needs to improve drastically or sign a quality player that is a quality kicker.

cpwigan wrote:The early miss was scary given how few points were going to be scored. Nice 40-20 though. Our short kicking game is fairly poop though; no need to kick it deep into the ingoal when you can slid the person stopping the ball yards in those conditions.

Correct, we need better game management in the oppositions 22 as well as learning to play the conditions.