Out of 18 attempts Pat Richards has kicked 12 and missed 6.

So that's a 66.66% rate.

Stevo calls Pat Mr reliable. I'm in two minds whether he is. I nearly had a heart attack when he missed that simple conversion that hit the post. It was a bad night for Richards with the boot and in close games that can really make all the difference, those added 2 points. It could have been just a one off, but I've never been all that confident with Pat Richards kicking. He had a great couple of seasons with it and then seemed to lose his way a little bit.

Now previously we haven't had much of a back up option. Amos Roberts, Mark Riddell and Karl Pryce all falling way short. However this year we have an excellent kicker in Paul Deacon. In fact I think it is fair to say he is one of the best in the business. Now in tight games, as previously mentioned, those 2 points can make all the difference. Do you think MaGuire should opt for Paul Deacon in such circumstances? At the match I was calling for MaGuire to let Deacon have a go with the boot. Now I know we wont have Deacon playing the full 80 minutes every game, but if Pat's having an 'off day' in a tight match would it not be wise to let Paul Deacon have a go?

I certainly would have given Deacon the kicking responsibilities against Warrington. Fortunately it didn't cost us the game, but for future reference in close games I would give Deacon the kicking responsibilities.

Thoughts?

If Deacon's on the field give him the duty. Paaat hasn't been Mr. Reliable since 08.

In 2007, 2008 he was kicking over 80% consistently. But since then he's been below 70%. Unless Deacon is going to play every week though their isn't any alternatives so I wouldn't complain.

I said before the season that Pat should keep the kicking for the first few games of the season but he'd have to improve on last years standards to hold onto it for the season.

He's not improved so far and just doesn't look right. He hasn't looked great since the World cup with Ireland and we may have to look at a change somewhere down the line.

It's getting to a point for me where Deacon should be number 1 when he's on the field and Richards should fill in for the rest of the time.

That's right. I mean what a way to contribute to a players confidence, take his goal kicking duties off him that'll work!

We win an important game and we STILL moan. Get off his back FFS!

Do you mean every week for the full 80 minutes or every week as in every game?

Maybe taking the kicking duties away from him will increase his confidence and allow him to concentrate on his game? If he's not confident in taking the duties then perhaps relieving him of the duties could be beneficial to the side and Pat?

I feared making this thread for the little comment at the bottom. I'm not a 'moaner' and I'm not 'getting on his back', but his goalkicking has not been up to scratch recently and it could have cost us the match. Imagine had that conversion bounced off the post and not gone over!

he did kick one off the touchline! i say no don't do it (coz he's in my fantasy team

)

Richards kicking seemed to go downhill at the World Cup and I don't think he's been the same with the boot since.

We have options if Richards go's off form we have Deacon, Phelps can kick a goal if the Wakefield friendly is anything to go by and Riddell can kick a goal to. I think we have quite good cover in that department

He did, but he nearly missed a simple kick in front of the posts and missed a few easier ones. Does this not highlight the inconsistency?

The games like Hull KR and Crusaders it didn't really matter and perhaps that is why not much attention has been brought to the matter, but in tight games, like the one against Warrington, every point counts and I would feel far more confident with Paul Deacon taking the kicking duties, because of his consistent success rate with Bradford for many years, than I would Pat Richards.

if we win does that make all decisons made correct? last season everyone was calling for SA to come in for roberts, even though we were winning most of the games in the second half of the season.

we were also playing fielden every game in those games, we were winning, but that didnt mean he deserved his place (BACK THEN)

if we believe we have nothing to improve on once we win, we wont be anywhere near OT come the end of the season. there is always something we can do to improve.

As long as he kicks the ones that matter, I don't care.

I think Madge will be thinking about this, as we'd have been a lot more comfortable in those last 10 minutes on Saturday had Pat made his kicks. I think his previous excellent form before last season will grant him a stay of execution and give him a chance to sort himself out, which he'll need to do pretty quickly with Deacon in the side

We have good cover but I would much rather have Pat kicking like he was at the back end of 2007 and 2008.

IMO if Richards carries on with this form, Deacon should kick when on the field.

speaking of making the game comfortable, how come when we're 6 points up with little time left, and we get to the 5th tackle about 10 metres out, did we not go for a drop goal - we were bang on square infront of the posts and chose to run the ball instead and failed to score. The cheesy 1 pointer to make you need 2 scores can be such a game breaker when it's tight, it really demoralises the opposition - just look at how well Long and Briers have used it over the years.

It went between the posts 2points

its good to have the option. keep the faith pat will boot them when we need them

Every game. I don't agree with mixing it up. Leave it to one man in my view.

There's always Roberts to fall back on if he can get his eye in, didn't he convert 9 on his NRL debut? Must be some kicking talent in there somewhere!

He didn't show it last year in Paaat's absence (6 goals from 13), same for Riddell (1 kick from 5). Phelps though might be the better 3rd choice behind Pat and Deacon (4 from 5 in his Wigan career). Hit a beauty off the touchline at Wakefield last month as well.

Well we won by 2 points, so we did win by a goal kick.. so on to next week with Pat as kicker.

Thank goodness it did! It was a simple conversion and he nearly made a hash out of it.

Well I would imagine Deacon will be involved in every game this season. (Providing he remains injury free).

I would do what is best for the team. If that means sharing the duties between Deacon and Richards, therefore taking the pressure of one individual (ala leadership team) then I would be all for it and not suprised to see it happen if Richards continues to hit below the 80% mark.

Im fairly sure Richards will come good with his kicking again. He puts in hours of practise.

Im not sure chopping and changing the kicker during games would benefit anyone.