FRANO BOTICA? : Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:08 pm  

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

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:23 pm  

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

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:33 pm  

florimo wrote: 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. “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........ 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 - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176

florimo wrote: 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. “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........ 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 - http://www.wiganwarriors.com/SquadMembe ... d=9&id=176

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:08 am  

Bilko wrote: 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 - http://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?

Bilko wrote: 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 - http://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?

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:22 pm  

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

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:29 pm  

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....

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:32 pm  

SiY wrote:

Wondering if he'd make a good coach of ANY sort. Obviously kicking coach but would that not just a luxury?

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?

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:40 pm  

Alex BP' wrote:

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....

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

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:09 pm  

Alex BP' wrote:

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....

: Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:14 pm  

wiganrlforever wrote:

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

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.