Jason Taylor returns to Campbelltown

[madunit]

As Benji's kicking coach

Tigers kick a goal - and get JT back as Benji's coach
ADRIAN PROSZENKO

February 28, 2010
JASON TAYLOR has returned to the club where it all began … as Benji Marshall's goal-kicking coach.
The Sun-Herald can reveal that Wests Tigers have enlisted former Wests sharpshooter Taylor as a mentor for Marshall.
The pair worked together for the first time before the Tigers-Roosters Foundation Cup match but the next session has been postponed because of Marshall's ankle injury.
''I'm pretty confident we'll get him going to a high standard,'' Taylor said. ''We did a few minor things on his technique last week and it will take a while to get it going on every kick he does.
''He's a confident guy and he took on board the stuff I was talking about. He kicks the ball a long way, he kicks it high and long. What we work on is getting it straighter. But he's a natural at it.''
Taylor finished his playing career as the NRL's point-scoring record holder. The former halfback finished with a tally of 2107 career points, a mark surpassed by Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns, then Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri.
''It's good to be coached by a guy who has actually kicked goals,'' Marshall said. ''He knows what you're thinking at the time of the kick and how hard it is to be able to focus on it.
''He's not trying to change my kicking style too much. He just gave me some tips on what to be thinking during kicking.
''I found it very beneficial. It will be great to have him around doing a few more sessions this year. He did a great job in that first session.''
The Tigers have tried several options following the departure of long-time kicker Brett Hodgson. Marshall, who signed a lifetime deal with the club during the week, said he wanted to nail the role on a permanent basis.
''I used to goal kick at school,'' he said. ''The pressure is a bit different in the NRL but I love it. Hopefully we can score a few more tries under the posts this year - our big wingers keep scoring out wide.''
Tigers coach Tim Sheens said Taylor was an obvious choice to take over from Graham Arnold, who is focusing on the Socceroos' World Cup commitments.
''JT did some very clever things with [Marshall],'' Sheens said. ''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.
''Considering the number of games we lost by fewer than six points last year, converted tries make a big difference.''
Taylor, also a consultant coach to the Roosters, said he was excited to be involved with his former club. ''I've certainly got an affinity with the club, it's great to do a bit with them,'' he said.
''I've done some stuff with Todd Carney as well and they're both natural, gifted footy players, which makes my job a lot easier.''

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...et-jt-back-as-benjis-coach-20100227-pa4e.html

 

[Magpies Forever]

As Benji's kicking coach

Tigers kick a goal - and get JT back as Benji's coach
ADRIAN PROSZENKO

February 28, 2010
JASON TAYLOR has returned to the club where it all began … as Benji Marshall's goal-kicking coach.
The Sun-Herald can reveal that Wests Tigers have enlisted former Wests sharpshooter Taylor as a mentor for Marshall.
The pair worked together for the first time before the Tigers-Roosters Foundation Cup match but the next session has been postponed because of Marshall's ankle injury.
''I'm pretty confident we'll get him going to a high standard,'' Taylor said. ''We did a few minor things on his technique last week and it will take a while to get it going on every kick he does.
''He's a confident guy and he took on board the stuff I was talking about. He kicks the ball a long way, he kicks it high and long. What we work on is getting it straighter. But he's a natural at it.''
Taylor finished his playing career as the NRL's point-scoring record holder. The former halfback finished with a tally of 2107 career points, a mark surpassed by Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns, then Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri.
''It's good to be coached by a guy who has actually kicked goals,'' Marshall said. ''He knows what you're thinking at the time of the kick and how hard it is to be able to focus on it.
''He's not trying to change my kicking style too much. He just gave me some tips on what to be thinking during kicking.
''I found it very beneficial. It will be great to have him around doing a few more sessions this year. He did a great job in that first session.''
The Tigers have tried several options following the departure of long-time kicker Brett Hodgson. Marshall, who signed a lifetime deal with the club during the week, said he wanted to nail the role on a permanent basis.
''I used to goal kick at school,'' he said. ''The pressure is a bit different in the NRL but I love it. Hopefully we can score a few more tries under the posts this year - our big wingers keep scoring out wide.''
Tigers coach Tim Sheens said Taylor was an obvious choice to take over from Graham Arnold, who is focusing on the Socceroos' World Cup commitments.
''JT did some very clever things with [Marshall],'' Sheens said. ''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.
''Considering the number of games we lost by fewer than six points last year, converted tries make a big difference.''
Taylor, also a consultant coach to the Roosters, said he was excited to be involved with his former club. ''I've certainly got an affinity with the club, it's great to do a bit with them,'' he said.
''I've done some stuff with Todd Carney as well and they're both natural, gifted footy players, which makes my job a lot easier.''

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...et-jt-back-as-benjis-coach-20100227-pa4e.html

Hmm- comments.

#1 ''It's good to be coached by a guy who has actually kicked goals,''

Tigers coach Tim Sheens said Taylor was an obvious choice to take over from Graham Arnold, who is focusing on the Socceroos' World Cup commitments.

So, despite the problems highlighted in #3 WT have not previously provided Marshall with a well credentialled RL goalkicker as a mentor?

#2 The Tigers have tried several options following the departure of long-time kicker Brett Hodgson.

Really?? Who else apart from Marshall? I'm not talking about a game here or there because Marshall was unavailable.

#3 ''JT did some very clever things with [Marshall],'' Sheens said. ''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.
''Considering the number of games we lost by fewer than six points last year, converted tries make a big difference.''

Teflon has only now discovered this fact we here have been talking about for at least the past season?

 

[N.C.]

Re your #2 - Hodgson, Farah, Collis... then Marshall? Pretty sure Marshall was second behind Farah and Collis at one stage.

 

[Bricey]

#3 ''JT did some very clever things with [Marshall],'' Sheens said. ''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.
''Considering the number of games we lost by fewer than six points last year, converted tries make a big difference.''

Teflon has only now discovered this fact we here have been talking about for at least the past season?

halla-f*****-lulliah!

remembering that Benji only kicked 1 match at 100% last season, any help has to be an improvement.

The number of games we lost by 6 points or less last season, I can think of 5

 

[Magpies Forever]

Re your #2 - Hodgson, Farah, Collis... then Marshall? Pretty sure Marshall was second behind Farah and Collis at one stage.

After Hodgson left I can recall Farah having a few shots, I dont remember Collis at all (must not have been memorable) and then there is Benji.

 

[37916319]

''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.

Tigers scored 103 tries in 2009.

If benji kicks at an improved rate of 5%, that would equate to the following.

103 x 5% = 5.15 additional kicks = 10.3 points per season / 26 rounds

= wait for it

= 0.4 points per game.

= Woo Hoo

 

[N.C.]

After Hodgson left I can recall Farah having a few shots, I dont remember Collis at all (must not have been memorable) and then there is Benji.

I recall he was pretty good as a kicker and took a few shots when Hodgo was out with a broken wrist - must have been '07 or '08? Thought he was in the running for first line honours, but his stint got cut short by injury.

Dunno, my memory's been shutting down on me quite a bit lately...

*EDIT*

Just looked it up. Kicked 14 from 16 in 2007... Must have had a good couple of weeks worth...

http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Dean_Collis.html

 

[westie]

After Hodgson left I can recall Farah having a few shots, I dont remember Collis at all (must not have been memorable) and then there is Benji.

Collis kicked well for a short time when he was very young. If he missed, he just missed... compared to Benji's shanks. He had to stop because his leg was bollocksed. Strangely he was still allowed to play. Can't imagine why he's been permanently injured for the past 4 years...

 

[simon says]

Bunji's shanks.....lol.

The bloke was missing them by inches and nearly every one was from the sideline.

Anything for a whinge I suppose.

But really,Bunji is only a fraction off being a top notch kicker,and if Taylor can help a tiny bit then this could make all the difference.

You have to admit Folkes and Taylor are very astute additions to the WT.

 

[The Colonel]

''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.

Tigers scored 103 tries in 2009.

If benji kicks at an improved rate of 5%, that would equate to the following.

103 x 5% = 5.15 additional kicks = 10.3 points per season / 26 rounds

= wait for it

= 0.4 points per game.

= Woo Hoo

Actually if you look at Benji's current statistics and the scores of some of the games where he kicked poorly that small percentage increase could have been the difference between making the finals last year or not.

Brisbane Rnd 11 - Benji kicked 1/4 lost by two points
Melbourne Rnd 15 - Benji kicked 2/4 lost by two points

An increase to a 70% kicking rate would have meant the Tigers could possibly have finished in the eight rather than ninth. Easy to look back but it is an important part of the game.

It isn't necessarily about how many more points he gets but more about improving his accuracy and the scoreline.

 

[macnaz]

Apart from goal kicking i hope our kicking in general play is also addressed because that has contributed as much to losing games as goal kicking has. We have often been in commanding leads where 2 points shouldnt even come into the equation but due the crap kicks out on the full and over the deadball line we often put ourselves under pressure resulting in us cracking and letting the opposition get back into the game.
And i hope they are practicing field goals as well to improve on our golden point success rate.

 

[westie]

Bunji's shanks.....lol.

The bloke was missing them by inches and nearly every one was from the sideline.

Anything for a whinge I suppose.

But really,Bunji is only a fraction off being a top notch kicker,and if Taylor can help a tiny bit then this could make all the difference.

You have to admit Folkes and Taylor are very astute additions to the WT.

He's Joel Caine MkII. Couldn't hit the stand behind the goal from close in.

Strangely enough - from all reports he kicked better at training in 2005 than Hodgo.

 

[Talanexor]

As Benji's kicking coach

Tigers kick a goal - and get JT back as Benji's coach
ADRIAN PROSZENKO

February 28, 2010
JASON TAYLOR has returned to the club where it all began … as Benji Marshall's goal-kicking coach.
The Sun-Herald can reveal that Wests Tigers have enlisted former Wests sharpshooter Taylor as a mentor for Marshall.
The pair worked together for the first time before the Tigers-Roosters Foundation Cup match but the next session has been postponed because of Marshall's ankle injury.
''I'm pretty confident we'll get him going to a high standard,'' Taylor said. ''We did a few minor things on his technique last week and it will take a while to get it going on every kick he does.
''He's a confident guy and he took on board the stuff I was talking about. He kicks the ball a long way, he kicks it high and long. What we work on is getting it straighter. But he's a natural at it.''
Taylor finished his playing career as the NRL's point-scoring record holder. The former halfback finished with a tally of 2107 career points, a mark surpassed by Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns, then Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri.
''It's good to be coached by a guy who has actually kicked goals,'' Marshall said. ''He knows what you're thinking at the time of the kick and how hard it is to be able to focus on it.
''He's not trying to change my kicking style too much. He just gave me some tips on what to be thinking during kicking.
''I found it very beneficial. It will be great to have him around doing a few more sessions this year. He did a great job in that first session.''
The Tigers have tried several options following the departure of long-time kicker Brett Hodgson. Marshall, who signed a lifetime deal with the club during the week, said he wanted to nail the role on a permanent basis.
''I used to goal kick at school,'' he said. ''The pressure is a bit different in the NRL but I love it. Hopefully we can score a few more tries under the posts this year - our big wingers keep scoring out wide.''
Tigers coach Tim Sheens said Taylor was an obvious choice to take over from Graham Arnold, who is focusing on the Socceroos' World Cup commitments.
''JT did some very clever things with [Marshall],'' Sheens said. ''I'm not predicting that Benji will be massively better, but just a 5 per cent improvement can make a huge difference.
''Considering the number of games we lost by fewer than six points last year, converted tries make a big difference.''
Taylor, also a consultant coach to the Roosters, said he was excited to be involved with his former club. ''I've certainly got an affinity with the club, it's great to do a bit with them,'' he said.
''I've done some stuff with Todd Carney as well and they're both natural, gifted footy players, which makes my job a lot easier.''

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...et-jt-back-as-benjis-coach-20100227-pa4e.html

What a nice problem to have. Our wingers can't score sh*t anywhere.

I'm all for giving Benji as much help as he needs - but seriously, he's one of the worst top-line kickers in the NRL. Thurston can kick better when blindfolded (and yes, I do have a source backing that claim up).

I suppose he's still the best option though.

 

[Borat.]

It was always a mental thing with Benji- His technique and distance is great.....

Taylor just needs to get his head right, and convert the easy ones....