Halligan throws boot into ring

[Burgs]

There is no doubting that Shepherds kicking for goals have improved in the last few months, Halligan may be the man for the Wallabies too.

Halligan throws boot into ring

By Wayne Smith
February 13, 2007

FORMER New Zealand league Test wing Daryl Halligan has raised his hand to fill the boots of disaffected Australia kicking coach Ben Perkins.

Perkins resigned in protest on the weekend after being offered a reduced contract that would have seen him left behind when the Wallabies went to the World Cup in France in September.

Even yesterday, Australia coach John Connolly held out hope he could negotiate a compromise between Perkins and the Australian Rugby Union that might allow the kicking coach to reconsider his resignation and remain in the job.

But all hope of that evaporated when Perkins went on Sydney radio to ridicule not just the ARU but rugby in general.

It still has not been decided whether Connolly will seek a replacement for Perkins or do away with the position entirely but logic suggests that his heavy emphasis on field position makes a kicking coach a necessity.

The All Blacks have a specialist kicking coach in Mick Byrne, the former AFL player who served as the Wallabies' kicking coach when they won the 1999 World Cup.

And Dave Aldred, Jonny Wilkinson's kicking coach, has been part of England's coaching staff since 1995.

Halligan, third on the NRL all-time points scorers list with 2034 behind Andrew Johns (2170) and Jason Taylor (2107), has emerged as the leading contender to fill the vacancy on the strength of his performance as Western Force kicking coach.

Johns' goal-kicking improved markedly after being coached by Halligan.

"It's nice to be mentioned," said Halligan, who played for North Sydney and the Bulldogs.

"I'd certainly be interested in sitting down and having a chat about it."

Although he built his coaching reputation working with goalkickers, Halligan has also expanded his repertoire at Force, assisting Matt Giteau, Cameron Shepherd, James Hilgendorf and Drew Mitchell with their kicking in general play.

[shasta]

The most successful kicking coach in League is current Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. He has been a consultant to four or five Sydney clubs and lifted the averages of their goal kickers. But I think he's pretty busy with his main job nowdays.

Halligan also has some pretty good credentials in that he was consultant to the All Blacks and he coached Hazem El Masri, arguably the best goal kicker in either code today. I think El Masri is the only kicker to equal Halligan's record of 30 on the trot. The previous record was held by one Graham Stirrat of the Fremantle Roosters.

I was happy to see him sign on with The Force. Aimless kicking cost us dearly on many occasions last year.

[Ecky]

Some of the kicks in general play in rounds 1 & 2 this year seemed pretty aimless too. Especially week 1.

[Thequeerone]

That's a real shame - because I know that Ben Perkins was involved in training people like Eales etc..

our own Sheperd is having a fantastic kicking season and no doubt benefited from Perkins efforts as well

This looks like penny pinching to me - if Connolly wanted him there then he reckons that he needs him - it's not like the ARU don't have money.

It's a sad fact of rrugby union life that games are won and lost on the boot of the kicker and it's been that way since Rob Andrews clinical kicking abilityin the eighties

[WF2006]

I guess we know where they found the money for the Tuquri offer - they reduce the assistant coaches contracts!

[Burgs]

Flatley in line to kick on

By Jim Morton
February 22, 2007

FORMER Australia sharpshooter Elton Flatley may be hired to take Australia one step further than when he kicked it to the brink of World Cup glory four years ago.

Flatley has been sounded out by his former Queensland mentor John Connolly about replacing Ben Perkins as the Wallabies kicking coach.

Test coach Connolly today confirmed the recently retired inside back was a strong candidate for the job left vacant by Perkins last week.

Perkins, coincidentally Flatley's personal kicking coach, resigned after his contact time and salary was slashed by the Australian Rugby Union.

Flatley memorably kept Australia alive in the 2003 World Cup final against England with pressure-packed, long-range penalty goals just before full-time and into extra time. England's Jonny Wilkinson finally broke the deadlock with a last-ditch drop goal.

Western Force kicking coach and former New Zealand league international Darryl Halligan is among a number of other contenders for the part-time job.

Connolly said the Wallabies front-line kickers would also be consulted over the appointment and a decision on Perkins's replacement would be made over the next six to eight weeks.

"Elton's been a successful kicker and sometime in the next couple of weeks I'll be speaking to him again,'' he said.

"There's no doubt we have to bring a focus and improvement to our kicking in Australia.''

Connolly has been highly impressed by Force goalkicker Cameron Shepherd's performances in the Super 14 which has lifted the full back-wing's Test credentials.

But the Wallabies selectors are also pleased by centre Stirling Mortlock's big match results.

"Stats tell you (Mortlock) is a great kicker,'' Connolly said.

"They show he's as good as anyone in the world, particularly under pressure. Stirling's (range) is a little less than Shepherd's (55-60 metres) but we need a couple of kickers.''

AAP

[shasta]

Nothing against Flats but what kind of track record does he have as a kicking coach? He was a great goal kicker and pretty good for field position as well, but great players don't always make great coaches.

I'd prefer to see Darryl Halligan get the nod. He's well proven in League as a coach. The Force and the Wallabies mainly need him for the outside backs, I reckon. His goalkicking was so phenomenal that many people forget what a great Rugby winger he was for Waikato before his RL days.

[Thequeerone]

He can't go if it interferes with the Force.

But am guessing that it won't - just not keen on him teaching any brumbies to kick like Sheps - have you seen Junior Kick - like a polaris missile

[The InnFORCEr]

I was watching a few them kicking at training on Tuesday and your right Junior does have big boot on him, not really seen him use it to good effect in a metch yet, but always good to know he can do it.

[Burgs]

Didn't know Junior was able to dispose of the ball by any means.....
I think re Flats shasta that it is a little different for a Kicking Coach in that, to my understanding, they aren't talking tactics or anything, just the mechanics of a given kick. More of a "technician" than a "strategist".
Certainly agree though that being a good player doesn't automatically make you a good Coach.

[AndyS]

I always thought Flatley had too much shape on his kicks. The thing that has impressed me about Shepherd's kicking this year is the simplicity of the mechanics and the straightness of the flight, taking field position out of the equation.

[shasta]

I always thought Flatley had too much shape on his kicks. The thing that has impressed me about Shepherd's kicking this year is the simplicity of the mechanics and the straightness of the flight, taking field position out of the equation.

Funny, but for a life-long Bulldogs fan I can't remember how Halligan did it. He's credited with having taught Hazem El Masri and he tends to fade 'em in.

The "straight over the black dot" style, like Sheps, is something that Graham Arnold brought to Rugby League.