For this week’s look at a Rugby League 13 of a very different nature, we’ve decided to look at the men that are trustworthy and reliable with boot to ball. The art of goal kicking has changed dramatically over the years, but the importance of it to a Rugby League game is still as massive as it ever was.
With games so often decided by the conversions and penalties that take place in a game, the men who are relied upon to kick the goals often face huge pressure. So, we’ve been polling on social media for you to tell us your greatest goal-kicker from each and every position (yes, including prop!). We thought it would be difficult to fill each and every position with a goal kicking extraordinaire, but once again you delivered! Here are the most popular choices that comprise this week’s Thursday XIII.
Full-Back
Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves)
Right Wing
Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors and Wests Tigers)
Right Centre
Jamie Lyon (St Helens and Manly Sea Eagles)
Left Centre
Mal Meninga (St Helens, Canberra and Australia)
Left Wing
Frank Botica (Wigan Warriors and Castleford)
Stand-Off
Henry Paul (Bradford Bulls, Wigan Warriors and Harlequins)
Scrum-Half
Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos and England)
Prop
David Hobbs (Bradford Northern)
Hooker
Colin Maskill (Wakefield Trinity, Leeds and Castleford)
Prop
Lee Crooks (Hull FC, Leeds and Castleford)
Second-Row
Craig Fitzgibbon (Australia, Hull FC and Sydney Roosters)
Second-Row
Andy Farrell (Wigan Warriors and Great Britain)
Loose Forward
Paul Sculthorpe (St Helens, Warrington Wolves and Great Britain)
