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http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Manly-turn-to-former-Swan-for-advices/2005/01/20/1106110863820.html
Manly turn to former Swan for advice
January 20, 2005 - 3:59PM
Manly has a new weapon in its campaign to make the NRL's top eight this season - former Sydney Swans defender Troy Luff.
The Sea Eagles, in a bid to improve on their disappointing 13th finish last season, have recruited Luff as a kicking and catching coach.
Coach Des Hasler is not afraid to tap into the talent pool of rival codes as former Socceroo Graham Arnold is a regular at the club's training base at Narrabeen.
Luff was not renown for his kicking game during his 155 games for the Swans between 1990 and 2001, but he believes he can help the Sea Eagles, particularly in the area of placement.
"The way that I view rugby league kicking style is it tends to be just kick it and hope for the best," said Luff.
"We're trying to work on more placement and where the kicks land. Just trying to get them to kick more like an AFL-style in that we have targets.
"It's also about trying a few different tactics which involve kicking, something which probably isn't done enough in rugby league.
Advertisement
Advertisement"It's the same with the catching - trying to use the hands to catch the ball rather than the chest."
Luff explained he was teaching Manly players to leap high and use their hands to catch the ball, a useful skill in scoring tries from bombs.
Halfback and captain Michael Monaghan will be the No.1 kicker for Manly in 2005 following the loss of five-eighth Andrew Walker, who retired last year after testing positive to cocaine.
Parramatta recruit Michael Witt will take on some kicking duties and winger Chris Hicks and hooker Chad Randall are keen to help out when they can.
Luff, who also works as a ground announcer at Swans home matches, said the majority of Manly players had embraced the rival code's skills.
"There's probably only a couple of guys I see who aren't as enthusiastic as the rest of the group," Luff said.
"It is something different for them and hopefully it'll give them an advantage this year."
As a Newcastle Knights supporter, Luff may be forced to change his allegiances as he will be attending several Manly games this year to fine tune the players' kicking tactics.
"I've been watching rugby league since I moved to NSW 18 years ago," said Luff, who grew up in Traralgon, Victoria.
"I've always thought that if these guys could kick and catch, as individuals and as a team it would make it so much better.
"(Newcastle skipper) Andrew Johns openly admits he learned a lot of his kicking from AFL so why wouldn't you learn to try and improve?"
They've got a kicking coach who is 'not renowed for his kicking' :lol:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Manly-turn-to-former-Swan-for-advices/2005/01/20/1106110863820.html
Manly turn to former Swan for advice
January 20, 2005 - 3:59PM
Manly has a new weapon in its campaign to make the NRL's top eight this season - former Sydney Swans defender Troy Luff.
The Sea Eagles, in a bid to improve on their disappointing 13th finish last season, have recruited Luff as a kicking and catching coach.
Coach Des Hasler is not afraid to tap into the talent pool of rival codes as former Socceroo Graham Arnold is a regular at the club's training base at Narrabeen.
Luff was not renown for his kicking game during his 155 games for the Swans between 1990 and 2001, but he believes he can help the Sea Eagles, particularly in the area of placement.
"The way that I view rugby league kicking style is it tends to be just kick it and hope for the best," said Luff.
"We're trying to work on more placement and where the kicks land. Just trying to get them to kick more like an AFL-style in that we have targets.
"It's also about trying a few different tactics which involve kicking, something which probably isn't done enough in rugby league.
Advertisement
Advertisement"It's the same with the catching - trying to use the hands to catch the ball rather than the chest."
Luff explained he was teaching Manly players to leap high and use their hands to catch the ball, a useful skill in scoring tries from bombs.
Halfback and captain Michael Monaghan will be the No.1 kicker for Manly in 2005 following the loss of five-eighth Andrew Walker, who retired last year after testing positive to cocaine.
Parramatta recruit Michael Witt will take on some kicking duties and winger Chris Hicks and hooker Chad Randall are keen to help out when they can.
Luff, who also works as a ground announcer at Swans home matches, said the majority of Manly players had embraced the rival code's skills.
"There's probably only a couple of guys I see who aren't as enthusiastic as the rest of the group," Luff said.
"It is something different for them and hopefully it'll give them an advantage this year."
As a Newcastle Knights supporter, Luff may be forced to change his allegiances as he will be attending several Manly games this year to fine tune the players' kicking tactics.
"I've been watching rugby league since I moved to NSW 18 years ago," said Luff, who grew up in Traralgon, Victoria.
"I've always thought that if these guys could kick and catch, as individuals and as a team it would make it so much better.
"(Newcastle skipper) Andrew Johns openly admits he learned a lot of his kicking from AFL so why wouldn't you learn to try and improve?"
They've got a kicking coach who is 'not renowed for his kicking' :lol:
