An often overlooked vital cog of any rugby league machine are the NRL goal kicking wingers.
After the raging “popularity” of our first NRL Final Smackdown – the Best XIII from teams who didn’t make the finals – we thought we’d offer up another finals series distraction. This time it is the best NRL goal kicking wingers from the past 40 years.
How many times have men like these bailed out a side under pressure with their pinpoint goal kicking.
Sure not all NRL goal kicking wingers are complete wizzkids outside of their kicking exploits, but they more than make up for it with their two pointers.
As The Gurgler loves to celebrate the forgotten or overlooked, please accept our NRL goal kicking wingers best of.
Why not vote in the poll so we can decide who the greatest us from the 40 years.
If we’ve missed one let us know via our comments sections.
Statistics supplied by the greatest rugby league stats website in the world – Rugby League Project.
ROSS CONLON
170 Games – 1981 to 1988
Western Suburbs, Canterbury, Balmain
524 Goals Scored + 36 Tries
An NRL Goal Kicking Winger from the 1980’s. Our resident Wests expert, Frankington Stanley remarks how he nailed a goal to win a game from 70 metres out. And did it easy. The Round the Corner pioneer did it with footballs that were a lot harder to kick than now.
HAZEM EL MASRI
317 Games – 1996 to 2009
Bulldogs
891 Goals Scored @ 81.97% + 159 Tries
Pioneering muslim player, he holds an Australian Rugby League record 35 consecutive goals and an enormous 324 points in 2014. A good player on the wing too scoring plenty O tries on top of the deadly accurate boot.
DARYL HALLIGAN
230 Games – 1991 to 2000
North Sydney, Bulldogs
855 Goals Scored @ 79.37% + 80 Tries
New Zealand international with 20 Tests, he was the predecessor Hazem at the Dogs. Dally M Winger of the Year in 1994.
PAT RICHARDS
119 Games – 2000 to 2015
Parramatta, Wests Tigers
122 Goals @ 76.25% + 66 Tries
Man of Steel Winner in 2010 for best in Super League his best work has been done in the UK. He’s been pretty good in the NRL too. Also has 965 goals in the UK Super League in 243 games for mainly Wigan, and a season with the Catalans. Also an Irish International.
MICHAEL GORDON
203 Games – 2006 to current
Penrith, Cronulla Parramatta
524 Goals @ 81.75% + 78 Tries
The only current player in the list, he has earned himself a place in the list as he makes grade for quality NRL Goal Kicking wingers. One game for NSW too.
LUKE BURT
264 Games – 1999 to 2012
Parramatta
646 goals at 77.93% + 124 Tries
Parramatta stalwart, and good value for his nomination here. Who doesn’t like a good Burt.
MATT GEYER
268 Games – 1997 to 2018
Western Reds, Melbourne
105 Goals @ 62.50% – 113 Tries
OK so not a superstar with the boot like some of the above, but he has scored more tries than goals – 113 in fact. But a good guy, a good winger and half decent NRL goal kicking winger.
GRAHAM MACKAY
201 Games – 1988 – 1999
Wests, Penrith, Roostrs, SQ Crushers, Gold Coast Chargers, Manly
133 goals @ 52.36% + 84 Tries
The big man who played for 6 clubs and once each for Australia and Scotland doesn’t quite have the goal kicking stats. But he scored more than a few tries and was a big man to handle on the field. Also played in the UK Super League.
ROD WISHART
177 Games – 1989 – 1999
Illawarra, St George-Illawarra
390 Goals @ 64.78% + 78 Tries
An Australian and NSW rep no less, played 15 times for the Kangaroos and 22 for the Blues. He was also Dally M Winger of the year in 1991.
EOIN CROSSAN
45 Games – 1992 – 1995
Souths and Cronulla
140 Goals at 70.35% + 11 Tries
Retireved from the part of the brain that only remembers obscure things, Eoin’s name was at the forefront when devising this list. He was a great goal kicker at the time, although his usefulness outside of two points was diminished.
MICHAEL DE VERE
161 Games – 1997 – 2009
Broncos
403 Goals + 72 Tries
A Bronco makes the list, and was a decent enough winger in a golden period for the Broncs. Spent a few seasons in the UK in 2005 and 2006.
VOTE NOW
CAN YOU THINK OF ONE BETTER OR HAVE WE MISSED ONE?
Add your choice below.
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