..we're screwed.

Bar the odd couple, that was a truly dreadful kicking display. If you're not able to kick into space and win better field position against the rest of the top 4 sides, you're asking for trouble.

Ironically I think Leuluai struggles more at home with kicking due to the size of the pitch. What would he be like at Old Trafford?

If Deacon plays next week he needs to take more responsibility. If he doesn't, we're in trouble in that department. O'Loughlin's kicking skills are limited and it would be tough for Sam Tomkins to get more involved when he's mostly the focal point of our 3rd to 4th tackle plays.

Yep, an awful kicking display.

I don't blame Leuluai particularly, fact is he can't kick very well, it's just frustrating we didn't have a better kicker out there.

I often wonder why we don't just drill the ball into the ground rather than going the aerial route every time though, maybe even kicking it into touch on the bounce, so that we can get the line reset. It's a good job our chase is so impressive, or else we'd get punished a lot more.

We really could do with getting Deacon back next year.

The reason we brought in Brett Finch. Paul Deacon takes the pressure off. Not a problem for me as long as Deacon is fit for the next match.

Don't really feel as forgiving to be honest - in my view if you're the scrum half for Wigan RL then you need to be able to kick and kick well.

As bad as he is with his boot it's slightly two faced that the groans aren't heard when Sam does the exact same

We NEED Deacs back next week though!

I think the fact that Leuluai kicked the ball right down the FB's throat four times in succession got the fans' back up as opposed to Tomkins' one off poor effort.

Precisely. That's why next season he's being moved to hooker - scored a belting try from dummy half tonight, didn't he?

Sam has at least a 50-50 record with kicking into space and missing a man tho, Tommy seems to hit a man every single time without fail, its like a fecking homing device

Yeah it was a cracker, did well to get that down (if he actually did get it down

)

He did. The side on camera showed the ball touching all of the line. Just looked very dodgy from the camera behind the sticks.

got agree, TL has been playing at 6/7 for Wigan for several years and his kicking game is woeful. I thought the point of Deacon was to help TL and ST with their kicking game.

Hate to say it but TL has never impressed me in a Wigan shirt bar the odd game here or there. Hooker is his best position and even then give me a Riddel everytime.

The major negative point from your destruction of HKR tonight was the very poor kicking game. This will need to improve plenty to have a chance of winning the comp.

Big transfer fee for Dobson, that would sort it as Leulaui is bobbins at long kicking, he kicked it down Briscoes throat at least 4 times tonight. You can't do that if you want to win the grand final.

Leuluai is world class from 10m away from the tryline. Anywhere else he is rubbish.

What annoyed me was he even did crap kicks on the 4th tackle that unacceptable

I don't think he has a position, he has the odd good game whichever position he plays. However he never plays consistently well in any position he plays. Can't fault his effort at all, his defence is good, he just doesn't direct and create like a scrum half / hooker needs to do.

I just hope he fines his feet as a 9, which I believe he can. Because of his size and lack of pace or understanding as a 7 you can't really play him anywhere else.

He can't organise or kick as a 7. Too slow to play anywhere else in the backs. Too small to play in the forwards.

I'd swap him for Dobson any day of the week as a 7.

Agreed.

Not good enough from an international player.

Correct. Kicking is a very important part of any Scrum Halves game wheather they play for Wigan or Shevington Sharks.

I despair of some of the people who post on here, it appears you have to have a member of the team to run down. Now its Tommy's turn, this man gives 100% effort and commitment every game he plays and I for one appreciate that and applaud it.

I would rather let Pat boot it down field! It would be more effective. The chip over the top every time would be even better. Kicking it backwards on odd occations would also be even better.

Thought I'd revisit this thread which was made just after the Hull KR game. I was wrong but only in the respect that despite Leuluai's dreadful kicking we were still able to win the game - mainly because the damaging effect was limited by a fantastic kick chase.

However, I maintain that this will eventually turn out to bite us on the backside if it continues. As stated on the original post I'm very concerned about our kicking game on such a large pitch at Old Trafford.

More generally speaking, we also need Tommy to finally step up to the plate and deliver in one of the really big games.

If Tommy HAS to kick he should drill it along the floor - who knows where its gonna bounce? Would make the Winger/Fullback nervous with it bobbling about so much & its better than him just hoofing it straight down their throat.

I think our effort and enthusiasm in the chase made up for most of Tommy's poorer kicks against Leeds and if we show the same commitment to chasing down kicks this Saturday we'll be ok. Saints back three (which I assume will be Foster-Wellens-Meli) aren't the quickest kick returners and don't pose the same long-range threat as Hall-Webb-Donald so I'm not that worried about it. Obviously I'd rather Tommy kicked better if Deacon isn't able to take the primary kicking role for some reason

I made this point in the 'How to beat Saints' thread.

If Leuluai is going to kick it right at the fullback/wingers he shouldn't be allowing them to pick up moment by catching it on the full. At least drill it on the ground where the defenders will have to either stop it with their foot or at least pause to pick it up. It worked wonders for Leeds last week - they just couldn't capitalise on their excellent field position. A rugby ball will bounce anywhere. Belt it at Francis Meli either on the floor or in the air close to the line & hope for the best.