The A to Z of the NRL – K is for Kicking Duel

The A to Z of the NRL continues, and we’re up to K, and what else could do this letter justice more than the kicking duel?

A kicking duel is lost art in the NRL era of rugby league, like the competitive scrum, ABC Saturday afternoon rugby league, and a play the ball not wasting our time thanks to wrestling.

If you aren’t quite sure what the kicking duel is, we have provided videos/links to the best ones we could find.

Our favourite has always been the one in State of Origin featuring Queensland’s Dale Shearer. Shearer’s effort at force-em-back (the informal local park moniker for the kicking duel) wasn’t overly successful, but the fun part is when one team finally has enough of the constant kicking and makes a break for it.

With possession being all important these days, you can’t see the kicking duel ever returning to an NRL game anytime soon, it is too different. Just look at the Walker brothers with their innovations (and winning ones too) in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup. No club would give them a chance, and they are no longer coaching in the ISC.

If our A to Z of the NRL has done one thing so far, it allows a chance to look back on what used to be good, while there is no actual rugby league on, and there’s nothing better than to kill a little bit of time watching the kicking duels on offer below.

 Best Kicking Duels…(that we could find)

DALE SHEARER – RICKY STUART KICKING DUEL

Dale Shearer was a livewire, and a forgotten State of Origin hero for Queensland.

He was the leading try scorer before Greg Inglis, and could play many positions.

For this game he was at fullback, and thank goodness as this kicking duel entertainment offers.

Of course he was up against Ricky Stuart, who was one of the finest rugby league kickers in the 80s / 90s.

Needless to say, Queensland didn’t fare well territory wise.

WET 1987 STATE OF ORIGIN KICKING DUEL

Sorry, only a link forward here, but well worth the effort.

Forgot how good Gary Belcher was at kicking a ball.

LINK TO STORY

NSWRL ERA CLUB KICKING DUEL

One of the only others we could find on Youtube, but a worthy addition all the same.

THE A TO Z OF RUGBY LEAGUE SO FAR

A is for Advertisements

B is for Broadcasters

C is for Cult Heroes

D is Defunct Clubs and Disused Grounds

E is for English Rugby League Players in Australia

F is for Best Rugby League Facial Hair

G is for Green Machine

H is for Best Rugby League Hair

I is for Interchange Players

J if for Best Rugby League Jerseys

K is for Kicking Duel