At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 10:51 am  

It seems like years that we've had a field kicking performance like that especially in an important game against arguably the best team in the league.

We've been subjected to poor kicks on the last from Tommy, Hastings and others where kicks with not much distance on them straight to the opposition full back or wingers that are taken with ease, followed up by a half arsed defence.

Smith's place kicking on Saturday was sublime, splitting the backline almost everytime, good distance on each kick too which kept Saints early set count in their own twenty/forty. We know that Briers had a great kicking game and causing us massive issues over the years.

I'm trying to think back to the last great performance where our place kicking played such a crucial part to winning an important game and the one that comes to mind is Matty Smiths MOM performance in the Challenge Cup win versus Hull FC in the rain.

Having such a skill is a big feather in our cap going forward through the season and in a game of territory it's such an important aspect in our strategy.

Great to see.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 10:54 am  

Agreed, thought Smith's kicking was excellent. He doesn't look out of place in there at all right now.

Re: After long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 10:55 am  

I don't think I've heard myself saying "Great kick" to myself so many times in a very long time! If Smith can keep his recent form going Tommy will have a struggle getting his place back.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 11:10 am  

Watching someone continually finding the turf and splitting the oppositions wings/fullback was a pleasure after seemingly years of dollying on the full to the opposition

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 11:17 am  

So happy for Harry Smith. The pressure on him has been huge and he’s struggled to make his mark but it looks to be coming good for him now. The kid who toyed with the Aussie youngsters is showing those skills in first team rugby now and long May it continue. He needs to keep working hard but there’s no reason why he can’t keep his place and keep this form going.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 11:18 am  

He kicked very well indeed and adds further weight to the argument that the injury to Leulaui has made you stronger not weaker due to Smith now playing every week.

It's also clear that he is much more confident now that he hasn't got Hastings playing next to him wanting to touch the ball every tackle of every set.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 12:20 pm  

Stu M wrote:

He kicked very well indeed and adds further weight to the argument that the injury to Leulaui has made you stronger not weaker due to Smith now playing every week.

It's also clear that he is much more confident now that he hasn't got Hastings playing next to him wanting to touch the ball every tackle of every set.

I think it's really hard to judge when they have different strengths and weaknesses. I agree that Smith's kicking game was a big part of us getting over the line against you, but as I said on the match thread, Tommy's defence in a key position could have played an equally important role (potentially bigger? who knows) in stemming the flow for the spell when you were rolling us over in the second half.

I think you're right about the confidence point too, although I don't think it's a coincidence either that his improvement has come during a season where our forwards are much more competitive. Hopefully a sign of things to come as it's becoming harder and harder for SL teams to recruit top class half backs.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 12:40 pm  

Indeed. If a half's kicking game improves (and we certainly can't claim that Smith has consistently 'found the grass' before as he did against Saints), then surely having that little bit more time and space to make the kick is going to be a big factor. Plus general increased confidence, etc.

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 12:44 pm  

Don't get used to it, once Tommy's back Smith will be put back into his box due to nobody having the bollox to say no to Tommy

Re: At long last - a fantastic display of field kicking : Mon May 09, 2022 12:51 pm  

Zzzzz...