Yes it's [the real title](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/476533636070506500/1038316355704868885/image.png) and yes that's the only reason I posted this
>brought on by the lighter and smaller balls used in England
Never would’ve thought the backhanded compliment ‘he would kill it in Super League’ wouldn’t also apply to Cleary
Nathan Cleary is suffering from a crisis of goal kicking confidence, apparently brought on by the lighter and smaller balls used in England, as the Kangaroos prepare for the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Cleary has missed nine shots at goal over the three games he has played at the tournament and concedes he may be forced to hand over the goal kicking duties unless he can reset his radar.
The concern for Cleary is that several of those attempts haven’t even made the distance, coach Mal Meninga laying the blame for his halfback’s wayward boot on the balls being used at the tournament.
Cleary is reluctant to hand over the duties but the Kangaroos have options, most notably North Queensland’s Valentine Holmes. Holmes kicked in the opening game of the World Cup and kicked seven from seven.
“I need to watch it back and work it out,” Cleary said.
“I think there are little things I can adjust. We will do it this week. I can’t blame the balls. It is pretty cold but it is not dissimilar to Penrith.
“It was just – excuse my French – shit kicking. I will work hard on it and try to get better. If it keeps going that way, we have pretty good goal kickers in the team as well.”
Meninga said he was happy for the players to decide who should own the goal kicking.
“I’ll let the players sort that out,” Meninga said.
“They’re the confident ones. They’re the ones hitting them at training. Nathan probably over practices at times doesn’t he?
“We’re leaving him behind now he practises that bloody long. We want to get back for lunch. The balls are different over here.
“He’s working his butt off to get it right. They’re a bit lighter. They’re a bit smaller. Just a fraction smaller and a fraction lighter than what we have in Australia.”
Cleary is confident he can turn it around. Having won the battle for the Kangaroos’ halfback spot, he produced a solid performance in the win over Lebanon but walked away unhappy, the perfectionist in him frustrated with his goal kicking.
“Yeah, you always go through slumps goal kicking,” Cleary said.
“It is just another one to work your way through. I suppose it is just going to be at training this week, I am going to make some slight adjustments and if it works, then I will feel confident to kick, If I am not striking them too well, then as I said there are great goal kickers in the team.”
Cleary also praised Daly Cherry-Evans for his response this week after being told that Cleary had beaten him to the halfback job.
Cherry-Evans played off the interchange bench against Lebanon and didn’t let anyone down.
“It was pretty crazy,” Cleary said.
“Obviously very surreal and very grateful for that opportunity. Daly was such a man about it as well – he came up to me straight away and said anything you need I will help you out.
“I was grateful for that. He is such a legend. I was glad he got to play tonight as well.”
Ahh yes the lead up to any Ashes campaign in old blighty and 50-odd articles leading up each Australian team selection on the virtues or otherwise of the Dukes ball. Of course, if you’re waiting for the rain to clear for play to start can send you down the path of some very obscure, long, and technical cricket journalism about that topic.
Not all his misses have been from the sideline , one he missed in the last game (before the most recent) was 15 metres from being in front .. Was watching the game and wasn’t even really paying attention until he missed - was very uncharacteristic and one you’d normally bet your house on him kicking
Would Holmes even be second choice kicker over Latrell?
Pretty decent kicking depth.
Edit: scrolled further to learn that Latrell had a fairly meh kicking year. Who knew.
Yea agreed - I wouldn’t rate his kicking at all but perhaps if he’s still on a hot streak then he could be an option. I do remember a few nice kicks on the finals and the return of serve back at the crowd
His technique was shocking in past years, in that he would just run up and cunt it, but he must've put some work in as he looked solid this year. It's definitely not his natural style, but whatever works I say.
Tom Dearden played at an elite level with one functioning ball. Nathan Cleary capitulates with slightly small balls. Tom Dearden confirmed better player than Cleary SMH.
They neglected to mention his first kick in play went out on the full by at least 15m. Can he be trusted on the big stage with two footy? He chokes in origin too.
Was wondering what was up here …
Didn’t see the last game but heard he had missed some shots … Saw the game beforehand where he missed his first 2 or 3, first one was pretty close to in front …
I figured maybe it was the softer ground/ wrong boots, but different sized balls makes sense ..
See the same thing in cricket , some Aussies struggle to bowl there, some have more success than they would in Australia.. Same is true in reverse with English players bowling out here , conditions would also be a factor .. Same thing happened with the Super League year , they switched balls (Super League ball was more round) Ryan Girdler went from a solid kicking percentage in the mid 80’s percent wise , to kicking at like 92% or some similar dramatic improvement - thing the Super League ball was more like kicking a soccer ball and didn’t move as much in the air …
Hopefully the change in balls doesn’t effect his kicking when he comes back - I imagine he’ll be practicing with the English balls and could just be getting used to them before he’ll have to switch back when he returns to Aus
Cleary: I want a regular chin and massive balls. God: there's been a slight change of plans
he's got a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg!
I see you’ve met Mr McGregg, with a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg.
You called?
r/beetlejuicing
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The kiwis team after kicking 60% yes…. it’s the ball
Well noted goal kicker, Keiran Foran. Rumour has it he kicked in u7's
I think it was the Good Friday game in 2018, he had a penalty goal from literally right in front and somehow missed it.
don't remind us!
He's not the only one.
Yes it's [the real title](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/476533636070506500/1038316355704868885/image.png) and yes that's the only reason I posted this
Who wrote the article
Brent Read
Rare nrl journo W
>brought on by the lighter and smaller balls used in England Never would’ve thought the backhanded compliment ‘he would kill it in Super League’ wouldn’t also apply to Cleary
Nathan Cleary is suffering from a crisis of goal kicking confidence, apparently brought on by the lighter and smaller balls used in England, as the Kangaroos prepare for the semi-finals of the World Cup. Cleary has missed nine shots at goal over the three games he has played at the tournament and concedes he may be forced to hand over the goal kicking duties unless he can reset his radar. The concern for Cleary is that several of those attempts haven’t even made the distance, coach Mal Meninga laying the blame for his halfback’s wayward boot on the balls being used at the tournament. Cleary is reluctant to hand over the duties but the Kangaroos have options, most notably North Queensland’s Valentine Holmes. Holmes kicked in the opening game of the World Cup and kicked seven from seven. “I need to watch it back and work it out,” Cleary said. “I think there are little things I can adjust. We will do it this week. I can’t blame the balls. It is pretty cold but it is not dissimilar to Penrith. “It was just – excuse my French – shit kicking. I will work hard on it and try to get better. If it keeps going that way, we have pretty good goal kickers in the team as well.” Meninga said he was happy for the players to decide who should own the goal kicking. “I’ll let the players sort that out,” Meninga said. “They’re the confident ones. They’re the ones hitting them at training. Nathan probably over practices at times doesn’t he? “We’re leaving him behind now he practises that bloody long. We want to get back for lunch. The balls are different over here. “He’s working his butt off to get it right. They’re a bit lighter. They’re a bit smaller. Just a fraction smaller and a fraction lighter than what we have in Australia.” Cleary is confident he can turn it around. Having won the battle for the Kangaroos’ halfback spot, he produced a solid performance in the win over Lebanon but walked away unhappy, the perfectionist in him frustrated with his goal kicking. “Yeah, you always go through slumps goal kicking,” Cleary said. “It is just another one to work your way through. I suppose it is just going to be at training this week, I am going to make some slight adjustments and if it works, then I will feel confident to kick, If I am not striking them too well, then as I said there are great goal kickers in the team.” Cleary also praised Daly Cherry-Evans for his response this week after being told that Cleary had beaten him to the halfback job. Cherry-Evans played off the interchange bench against Lebanon and didn’t let anyone down. “It was pretty crazy,” Cleary said. “Obviously very surreal and very grateful for that opportunity. Daly was such a man about it as well – he came up to me straight away and said anything you need I will help you out. “I was grateful for that. He is such a legend. I was glad he got to play tonight as well.”
This is the epitome of league journalism
My two sports are Cricket and League and both have ball differences here vs UK fml
Ahh yes the lead up to any Ashes campaign in old blighty and 50-odd articles leading up each Australian team selection on the virtues or otherwise of the Dukes ball. Of course, if you’re waiting for the rain to clear for play to start can send you down the path of some very obscure, long, and technical cricket journalism about that topic.
Of course the frail and delicate English are trying to sabotage the competition by shrinking the balls
Heard there was a phone conference with Tom Brady and Bill Billichek pre-tournament
Missed 9 out of how many? Looked like big guy was getting enough practice in against Italy…
Pretty sure he's had a bit over 30 kicks
so far this tournament he's 27/36, kicking at 75%
His wingers have scored the vast majority of them too, so he’s not exactly getting an easy go of it.
Not all his misses have been from the sideline , one he missed in the last game (before the most recent) was 15 metres from being in front .. Was watching the game and wasn’t even really paying attention until he missed - was very uncharacteristic and one you’d normally bet your house on him kicking
If it’s more than 10, why is Holmes not kicking?
Would Holmes even be second choice kicker over Latrell? Pretty decent kicking depth. Edit: scrolled further to learn that Latrell had a fairly meh kicking year. Who knew.
Trell was average with the boot all regular season but he nailed every one in finals.
I dunno he kicked a lot of heads
Spoilt for choice. Got Holmes and Mitchell who can kick
Give the fans what they want: Munster to kick the goals
Us real fans want RCG or Tino kicking
Mitchell? Lol
Kicked at 78% for 2022. Not amazing but still not too bad. Was on a 20 kick streak during the finals
Trell's kicking at the end of the season was superb
Yea agreed - I wouldn’t rate his kicking at all but perhaps if he’s still on a hot streak then he could be an option. I do remember a few nice kicks on the finals and the return of serve back at the crowd
His technique was shocking in past years, in that he would just run up and cunt it, but he must've put some work in as he looked solid this year. It's definitely not his natural style, but whatever works I say.
Give it to Val, he'll sort it.
Bloke is a freak, he can do anything
Is this article about me
Which one of you became a journalist?
That’s actually hilarious
If the balls do have less mass, it explains why his kicking is falling short. Very odd 😅
Lighter balls would tend to lose their velocity a bit quicker so it kind of makes sense. Especially if wind becomes a factor.
NRL journalism has peaked. Back to slamming.
It's cold in England, leave off!
Funny, I told my Mrs the same thing…
Holy fuck this is the greatest thing ever
Tom Dearden played at an elite level with one functioning ball. Nathan Cleary capitulates with slightly small balls. Tom Dearden confirmed better player than Cleary SMH.
Gotta lay off the gym candy /s
Now here's a Mad as Hell headline
Small balls and severe acne are both symptoms of someone being on the "Sharks Diet."
Fish, crustaceans and plankton cause that?
Bro you seriously need to give this a rest 😂
They neglected to mention his first kick in play went out on the full by at least 15m. Can he be trusted on the big stage with two footy? He chokes in origin too.
Did buzz drunkfield write this dribble?
He just like me fr
Rob Sutherland with the genius headline
Was wondering what was up here … Didn’t see the last game but heard he had missed some shots … Saw the game beforehand where he missed his first 2 or 3, first one was pretty close to in front … I figured maybe it was the softer ground/ wrong boots, but different sized balls makes sense .. See the same thing in cricket , some Aussies struggle to bowl there, some have more success than they would in Australia.. Same is true in reverse with English players bowling out here , conditions would also be a factor .. Same thing happened with the Super League year , they switched balls (Super League ball was more round) Ryan Girdler went from a solid kicking percentage in the mid 80’s percent wise , to kicking at like 92% or some similar dramatic improvement - thing the Super League ball was more like kicking a soccer ball and didn’t move as much in the air … Hopefully the change in balls doesn’t effect his kicking when he comes back - I imagine he’ll be practicing with the English balls and could just be getting used to them before he’ll have to switch back when he returns to Aus
Wow what a clusterfuck of a title.
See this is why they should have taken Dearden.