Ben Hunt's field goal woes

[deep impressions]

There's a lot of discussion about Ben Hunt elsewhere on Broncos HQ but I thought a separate thread was needed to discuss his field goal difficulties. I am baffled that he cannot kick a field goal to save his life. I know there is a goal kicking thread highlighting Parker's conversion misses in close losses over the years, I wonder what Hunt's field goal record is. Has Hunt ever actually kicked a field goal in an NRL match?

Aside from misses the last 2 weeks, I vaguely recall him missing one in the epic Suncorp golden point victory over the Roosters early last year and am sure he's missed more over the years. I know Milford muffed an easy shot last week against the Cows but he is our field goal sharpshooter so surely when it's the final play of the game they should get the ball to Milford, who rarely misses, as opposed to Hunt who cannot kick a field goal to save his life and sure enough missed again last night?!

 

[tommy]

Yeah it's weird. Hunt even does most of our goal line dropouts doesn't he? He can drop kick a ball but it all goes to shit when he actually has to aim at something.

 

[broncos4life]

There's a lot of discussion about Ben Hunt elsewhere on Broncos HQ but I thought a separate thread was needed to discuss his field goal difficulties. I am baffled that he cannot kick a field goal to save his life. I know there is a goal kicking thread highlighting Parker's conversion misses in close losses over the years, I wonder what Hunt's field goal record is. Has Hunt ever actually kicked a field goal in an NRL match?

Aside from misses the last 2 weeks, I vaguely recall him missing one in the epic Suncorp golden point victory over the Roosters early last year and am sure he's missed more over the years. I know Milford muffed an easy shot last week against the Cows but he is our field goal sharpshooter so surely when it's the final play of the game they should get the ball to Milford, who rarely misses, as opposed to Hunt who cannot kick a field goal to save his life and sure enough missed again last night?!

The missed field goal is completely on Milford. Hunt can't kick field goals, it's a proven fact. Whether he should be able to or not is a seperate discussion. You could see he was filthy that the ball was passed to him.

Milford hid on the other side of the field, he should have got in position and had a go himself.

I know Hunt is the designated punching bag around he but I least he tried his guts out last night, Milford hid multiple times, that is a far greater concern to me.

 

[Stix]

There's a lot of discussion about Ben Hunt elsewhere on Broncos HQ but I thought a separate thread was needed to discuss his field goal difficulties. I am baffled that he cannot kick a field goal to save his life. I know there is a goal kicking thread highlighting Parker's conversion misses in close losses over the years, I wonder what Hunt's field goal record is. Has Hunt ever actually kicked a field goal in an NRL match?

Aside from misses the last 2 weeks, I vaguely recall him missing one in the epic Suncorp golden point victory over the Roosters early last year and am sure he's missed more over the years. I know Milford muffed an easy shot last week against the Cows but he is our field goal sharpshooter so surely when it's the final play of the game they should get the ball to Milford, who rarely misses, as opposed to Hunt who cannot kick a field goal to save his life and sure enough missed again last night?!

It's like they don't train for it... they all run around with no direction... Watch Melbourne or the Cows in that situation, they know what they are going to do, they get into position and hit it just like they have practiced... Doesn't always go to plan with a bad pass or defence rushing up but they have a plan which is easy to see

 

[bazza]

It's not that Hunt can't physically kick a drop kick, because in fact, he strikes them well. He actually hits them sweetly, and he can kick them rather long. The issue is, the set-up before actually kicking it. We don't get ourselves in a position to land it. You have to set up directly facing the uprights. Each time Hunt has taken a shot, its more a desperate, almost second thought, attempt from 20m left or right of the posts. That's not where you kick a field goal from.

If you look back at the good teams, or even focus in on the players who regularly kick field goals, and just have a look at how they position and direct their team to a certain position of the field, right in front of the posts. Lockyer used to do it better than anyone. He'd direct the play straight through to the centre of the field, and sit back 15-20m behind the play, giving himself enough time and space, but more importantly giving him the right direction to snap a field goal.

It's something you have to learn, and I'm sure Milford and Hunt will be better for it in the future. If you look at last week. Hunt got a good purchase on it, and it sailed about 45-50 metres. But the set up was poor. It's almost as if it wasn't his first choice to go for a field goal. To kick a field goal, it has to be the first instinct, the primary objective. You have to prepare for it for the whole set, not just think about it a few second prior to kicking one, just for the sake of it. You have to set your intentions clear from the start of the set, and let the rest of the team know so they can get you into a good position.

 

[Nashy]

Yeah it's weird. Hunt even does most of our goal line dropouts doesn't he? He can drop kick a ball but it all goes to shit when he actually has to aim at something.

If you watch him each game, he's really not that great at them either. Seems to just struggle with boot and ball no matter what type of kick he's doing.

 

[Kaz]

Yeah it's weird. Hunt even does most of our goal line dropouts doesn't he? He can drop kick a ball but it all goes to shit when he actually has to aim at something.

I think he should aim for something else & then he will kick properly.

Something like, aim to kick to the sideline & hey presto he kicks the field goal we need.

 

[Alec]

I don't get why Milford couldn't set himself up in the middle of the field and Hunt pass the ball to him.

 

[Maroon4life]

I don't get why Milford couldn't set himself up in the middle of the field and Hunt pass the ball to him.

Missed an absolute sitter last week in a big game and obviously has some baggage.

As good as Milf has shown himself to be he needs to grow some heart.

 

[Mitch06]

I don't get why Milford couldn't set himself up in the middle of the field and Hunt pass the ball to him.

Me neither. I was watching Hunt and Milford in the lead up and Milford was never kicking it. He showed no urgency whatsoever to get back. In the past now though...put it down to inexperience I guess...

 

[Maroon4life]

It's not that Hunt can't physically kick a drop kick, because in fact, he strikes them well. He actually hits them sweetly, and he can kick them rather long. The issue is, the set-up before actually kicking it. We don't get ourselves in a position to land it. You have to set up directly facing the uprights. Each time Hunt has taken a shot, its more a desperate, almost second thought, attempt from 20m left or right of the posts. That's not where you kick a field goal from.

If you look back at the good teams, or even focus in on the players who regularly kick field goals, and just have a look at how they position and direct their team to a certain position of the field, right in front of the posts. Lockyer used to do it better than anyone. He'd direct the play straight through to the centre of the field, and sit back 15-20m behind the play, giving himself enough time and space, but more importantly giving him the right direction to snap a field goal.

It's something you have to learn, and I'm sure Milford and Hunt will be better for it in the future. If you look at last week. Hunt got a good purchase on it, and it sailed about 45-50 metres. But the set up was poor. It's almost as if it wasn't his first choice to go for a field goal. To kick a field goal, it has to be the first instinct, the primary objective. You have to prepare for it for the whole set, not just think about it a few second prior to kicking one, just for the sake of it. You have to set your intentions clear from the start of the set, and let the rest of the team know so they can get you into a good position.

You just explained why Hunt will never be the Halfback we need for this team. Forget missing the field goal, the real question is why he didn't orchestrate this part of it.

 

[Maroon4life]

Yeah it's weird. Hunt even does most of our goal line dropouts doesn't he? He can drop kick a ball but it all goes to shit when he actually has to aim at something.

Someone already said it but go back and watch his dropouts, he generally only kicks them 40m, teams start their sets on our 30 most times. Other teams can kick them 50+.

 

[Clintos]

Milf was tackled on the 4th and then they spread it out to the right on the last. Not really fair to blame Milf for that IMO.

 

[Super Freak]

Milf was tackled on the 4th and then they spread it out to the right on the last. Not really fair to blame Milf for that IMO.

Milf should have taken control of that last set.

 

[Super Freak]

The thing is, Hunt can kick field goals.

He does them in practice and he nails them.

It's how he sets up for them during a game that's the problem.. And I think his posture kind of lets him down.

 

[deep impressions]

The thing is, Hunt can kick field goals.

He does them in practice and he nails them.

But has Ben Hunt ever kicked a field goal in an NRL match?

No one has been able to answer me. I do not think he has. He must hold something of an unwanted record among halfbacks in terms of field goal success ratio - 0/plenty.

Given he practices field goals and evidently can drop kick based on the line drop outs - which admittedly are quite erratic - it could be a mental barrier he just can't get over in close games. As a thinking footballer and strategist Hunt has a long way to go.

Hunt seems to be at his best when he plays instinctively, eg the golden point try v Roosters last year and even the field goal attempt vs Cowboys last week he almost seemed to take off the cuff and got a good connection even though he missed. As highlighted earlier in this thread the Broncos really miss Lockyer's composure down the stretch in close matches. The Broncos' inability to win tight matches has become a real issue this year that they need to turn around before the finals

 

[bazza]

You just explained why Hunt will never be the Halfback we need for this team. Forget missing the field goal, the real question is why he didn't orchestrate this part of it.

I disagree completely with the part about Hunt never being the halfback we need. It's completely ludicrous. If that's the way you think, what's next, are you going to say that Milford will never be the five-eighth we need either?

Let's not forget, as a halfback in the NRL, he is relatively young. He hasn't had the same luxury of fine tuning his craft as a halfback in lower grades, that other players get. He's hand to unlearn a few things that he picked up during his brief stints as a hooker off the bench. Some of these situations he is currently in as a half back are foreign to him, and he will only learn from experience. Have faith.

 

[Maroon4life]

I disagree completely with the part about Hunt never being the halfback we need. It's completely ludicrous. If that's the way you think, what's next, are you going to say that Milford will never be the five-eighth we need either?

Let's not forget, as a halfback in the NRL, he is relatively young. He hasn't had the same luxury of fine tuning his craft as a halfback in lower grades, that other players get. He's hand to unlearn a few things that he picked up during his brief stints as a hooker off the bench. Some of these situations he is currently in as a half back are foreign to him, and he will only learn from experience. Have faith.

I'm giving Milford some latitude as he has some in the bank, Milford is down on form but he's had to carry Hunt for the first 10 rounds. He's also got less experience in 1st grade and is substantially younger.

Apologise and make excuses all you want for Hunt but the bloke hit his skill ceiling last year, best case scenario he gets back to his best and becomes a dangerous ball runner.

He's 26 and doesn't look like becoming the half we need to balance the team correctly. I'm sorry Griffin delayed his development, doesn't mean we punish ourselves by keeping him on the books for another 7 years.