Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:07 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

If Hampshire does get the full back spot, he could be our goal kicker. He's kicked 111 goals in 18 games in the under 19s

Not meaning to be overly critical of one of our young prospects but though he has kicked 111 he has also missed 54 kicks giving him a strike rate of around 67%. Like Charnley and Smith he has some days where they all go over and some very poor days with the boot. For a team looking to mount a serious challenge for honours you would want a more reliable regular goal kicker. He is only young and may well get better with practice and age but with such a strike rate could only be reasonably expected to act as a back up kicker for the present.

Either we get somebody practicing goal kicks until their foot nearly drops off before next season (if an existing squad member is to take over) or we sign somebody to mentor the young outside backs and kick goals for a year or two while the replacements get fully ready to take over. Otherwise we can expect to lose a good few games against the better teams due to missed goal kicks.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:37 pm  

Thought Deacon was kicking coach? The little sod hardly missed when he played for Bradford against us!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:48 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Thought Deacon was kicking coach? The little sod hardly missed when he played for Bradford against us!

Deacon was a great kicker and Harris could also kick goals but some players just have a natural talent to kick to the standard of say Pat Richards or Andy Farrell - obviously great kickers still practice a lot but some players just have that ability and the majority don't.

If we are not bringing in a kicker of that quality and we don't already have somebody as good then that could cost us in the tight games.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:02 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

If Hampshire does get the full back spot, he could be our goal kicker. He's kicked 111 goals in 18 games in the under 19s

Pretty sure that Anthony Minichello can kick too - not sure how well but if he is good then his signing would make more sense.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:06 pm  

Minichiello has never kicked a goal in his career.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:08 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Minichiello has never kicked a goal in his career.

Pitty

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:19 pm  

dany1979 wrote:

Pretty sure that Anthony Minichello can kick too - not sure how well but if he is good then his signing would make more sense.

I think we've failed in getting Minichello, thats why Hampshire has been playing a lot recently. If roosters offer him a new contract, hes staying and apparently they're going to offer him one.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:30 pm  

If Sam goes we quite simply have to sign a full back, the coaching staff are kidding themselves if they think Hampshire is ready for a full year in Super League to replace Sam Tomkins. We just need a stop gap experienced full back until someone is ready to take that next step up. We should be looking at replacing Richards from within and bringing someone else in to play fullback, I have the feeling we will get the opposite though

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:43 pm  

Minichello has to play on the wing if he wants to stay at the Roosters next year, apparently hes happy to do that. Now thats loyalty. I think he may live to regret that decision though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:59 am  

Question about a signing we've already confirmed, Eddy Pettybourne. Can anyone tell me why he hasn't played for Wests this year? Doesn't say he's injured on their website and he hasn't been playing Toyota Cup from what I've seen. Slightly worrying really.