Harry Smith takes fresh step to improve his Wigan Warriors goal King record

[josie andrews]

HARRY SMITH is benefitting from the guidance of a specialist kicking coach as he tries to improve his accuracy from the tee.

Ahead of Friday’s home clash with Salford, the Wigan star had landed 75 goals from 118 attempts in Super League – a success rate of 63.5 percent.

In comparison, the competition’s most accurate kicker this season has been Will Dagger of Wakefield, on 88.9 percent before the home game against St Helens, while the total success rate across the division up to an including round 23 was 75.4 percent.

While only Salford’s Marc Sneyd had kicked more goals overall this term, no other player had missed more than 18, while Smith had been off target 43 times.

In an attempt to address the issue, Wigan have recently brought in former rugby union player Paul Grayson – who scored over 3,000 points in his career with Northampton and England – to work with the halfback.

“Since I’ve been a kid for my amateur team, I’ve always kicked well,” said Smith, 23.

“It’s been a frustrating one this year, and people have taken that as my game, thinking that because I wasn’t kicking well, I wasn’t playing well. I felt I was still contributing to the team.


“We brought in a kicking coach about a month ago, and Paul has been brilliant.

“We’re working on the fundamentals of kicking as well as looking at the little things. I think it’s helping a lot.

“It’s something I want to swing round quickly, particularly coming to the back end of the year when sometimes goal kicks can be the difference.”

The play-offs beckon for Wigan and they served notice of their intentions with an impressive recent thrashing of Catalans Dragons in France, followed by a convincing victory over Salford on Friday night

However, Smith isn’t getting carried away, adding: “It gives us a bit of confidence but it more shows to us how we want to play for the rest of the season.

“If we do that to the best of our ability, we’ve got a chance of winning most games.

“There’s a good camaraderie around the lads. We’ve had some continuity in terms of the team, and if you get that, you can build momentum.

“We’re looking to do that for the rest of the season and then see what happens in the play-offs.”

Smith has been ever-present for Wigan this season, his first wearing the number seven shirt following the retirement of Thomas Leuluai, who is now on the coaching staff.

“It’s been a big season for me, having the seven shirt for the first time and a big responsibility,” added Smith.

“I’m trying to control the team and play off the back of my kicking game. I know where I can get better but I feel it’s gone alright so far and if we can get the Grand Final, it can go down as a success.”

https://www.totalrl.com/harry-smith-tak ... ng-record/

[jobo]

I saw him play in his younger days and goalkicking always seemed to be easy for him. Think it's a concentration type issue rather than, ability.

I'm sure he'll get it back.

[Caboosegg]

In my opinion its 100% in his head.

He is absolutely appalling at kicking until one goes in then he seems to settle and put them all through its weird.

[endoman]

Good to finally see this happen, some of us have been mentioning it for many months......
Now add a sports psychologist to the mix as well.

[DaveO]

That article was written before the Salford game and if he’s benefiting from a kicking coach you could have food me. He missed an easy kick again from Faz’s try. True he kicked a touchline conversion later but he ended up with a 60% success rate which isn’t good enough.

Like Caboosegg says I think it’s in his head. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s banging then over in training but on match day he often seems rushed to me.

[Blackpool_Pie]

As has been said, I feel its mental pressure he struggles with when kicking which isn't a great for a kicker as they have to deal with pressure the most. It's as if when a kick is out wide, the pressure is off and he isn't really expected to get a kick so he relaxes into his swing. I've never been a kicker but I've heard many in union and league say when kicking you need to completely relax yourself and zone out. My guess is the kicks in easier positions put a little extra pressure on him as he's expected to kick it and he gets slightly more tense because of this.

He's really grown into the team away from kicking from the tee though. Kicker or not, I hope he stays with us for a long time

[Wintergreen]

Good to finally see this happen, some of us have been mentioning it for many months......
Now add a sports psychologist to the mix as well.

This should be the priority imo.

He clearly has the talent, as others have said, it looks like a mental thing.

[endoman]

Don't know if he still is active on a coaching level, but Dave Alred would be the type of person.
https://davealred.com/

[Bob the Builder]

Obviously working And money well spent

[ddtftf]

We have signed a goal kicking centre from Catalans , so job sorted next year