- From:The Daily Telegraph
- February 09, 2012
PARRAMATTA coach Steve Kearney is yet to decide who'll take on kicking duties for the Eels, with Chris Sandow and Luke Burt to battle it out ahead of the start of the 2012 NRL season.
Burt has been the Eels' regular kicker for over a decade, establishing himself as one of the best in the game with a 82.7 per cent success rate last season.
However, the arrival of Sandow from South Sydney has put his kicking position under pressure.
The diminutive halfback booted 84.5 per cent of his goals in 2011 and has a success rate of 81.4 per cent for his career with Burt trailing behind with a record of 77.1 per cent.
Both are likely to be given the opportunity to stake their claim in Saturday's trial clash with Wests Tigers at Gosford.
We are fortunate to have two great kickers available to us but I haven't made up my mind yet," Kearney said.
"Chris was almost 85 per cent last year and Luke in the low 80s also, so we'll just see how we go."
Burt's involvement at Bluetongue Stadium against the Tigers could be limited after he hobbled out of training with a hamstring strain on Wednesday.
Kearney played down the significance of the 32-year-old's early departure from the session and the absence of skipper Nathan Hindmarsh.
"These guys are at the 30-plus mark and it's just a case of that, nothing more than that," he said.
However, the New Zealand Test coach was more forthcoming about an injury to utility Reni Maitua that'll see him miss the season opener against Brisbane on March 2.
"Reni has a bit of an injury," Kearney said.
"He had ankle surgery and that has been disappointing for him, but he will hopefully be back soon."
Eels prop Justin Poore says he'll use the new season to honour the club's strength and conditioning coach Sean Burns, who died late last month.
Burns' death rocked the club and Poore admits he and his team-mates are still coming to terms with the loss.
"It's been tough, he'll be fondly remembered by us all," said Poore, who paid tribute to the contribution Burns made to his career.
The former St George Illawarra and NSW front rower credits Burns, whose funeral was on Monday, for getting him fit for the start of the new campaign for the first time since arriving from the Dragons in 2010 following a long-standing knee problem.
"He was so helpful to me and instilled confidence that I'd never thought I'd get back," Poore said.
"I owe him a lot and want to show that I can achieve the goals he set for me for this season."
Replies
Ill think sandow will get the gig
Why can`t they both kick?
Burt kicks from the right side, the good side for a left foot kicker, and Sandow from the left side, the good side for a right foot kicker.
Unless sandow gets injured
i agree with slippery here
that's what kearney should get them to do!
I agree with Slippery Eel. However I also think that Sandow thrives on involvement and pressure. If you get him more involved in kicking then it gets him more involved in the game. He is an energy player. My vote would be for Sandow but I can see the merit in Burt kicking on the right wing.
I think Burt will continue kicking provided his hamstring injury doesn't affect him. You can't read too much into stats. Burt has been kicking in the NRL for over 10 years whereas Sandow has kicked for roughly 5 years. Their percentages don't reflect the difference in longevity in the game. Sandow will have enough to worry about by trying to steer a team around the park that has struggled in recent years. IMO Burt will continue to kick this season barring injury.
Schifcofske was the kicker when Burt debuted but he was backup kicker. Taylor kicked in 01. Hodgson shared the kicking with Burt and Witt didn't kick much at Parramatta. Burt was always in the top 2 for the kicking duties. As a young player, before his debut at training Brian Smith approached Burt and offered him a shot at goal at training and told him he'd be the first player to kick a goal at the new Olympic Stadium. Burt stepped up and landed the goal. Schifcofske then stepped up and Smith told him he'd be the second player to kick a goal. The inner smart arse in Burt came out and said famously "Or the first to miss".
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