ManlyBacker
Winging it
Lyon good to resume Manly's goalkicking
Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 4:21 PM
Manly sharpshooter Jamie Lyon says he's ready to resume goalkicking duties in Sunday's NRL grand final if captain Matt Orford's isn't up to the task.
Orford raised questions over whether his hamstring would hold up for spot kicking against Melbourne at Telstra Stadium, telling Thursday's grand final breakfast gathering he wouldn't practice shooting for goal until the muscle twinge had settled properly.
The Manly halfback said he would be ready to continue taking the goal attempts by Sunday, but five-eighth Lyon has put his hand up as a worthy replacement.
Lyon had been the Sea Eagles first-choice kicker earlier in the year until a foot injury after Origin prompted him to step aside for Orford.
He last shot for goal five weeks ago in New Zealand, but boasts a better record than Orford.
Lyon has landed 48 of 62 attempts at 77 per cent while Orford is slightly less at 42 of 59 shots at 71 per cent.
But Lyon says he will remain understudy unless called upon.
"I had a little bit of an injury on my foot early on so Ox has been doing it," said Lyon.
"He's been kicking pretty well. I've just left it with Ox and he's going pretty well so I don't think there's any need to change.
"I've been working on it at training though."
Orford said he was hopeful his hamstring would be 100 per cent by game day.
"It's not too bad, it was just some muscle tightness," said Orford.
"It was nothing serious. We managed it well in the early days and I've had a run with the team.
"Hopefully by Friday and Saturday I will have a kick and decide (whether I will kick in the grand final) by then.
"I have been fairly comfortable in that role and it's part of my game. If I can do it and can do it well I definitely want to do it."
Lyon, meanwhile, said he would also practice his field goal kicking this week in anticipation for a close grand final contest.
Orford booted the match-winner three minutes from fulltime in the Sea Eagles 13-12 win over Melbourne earlier this year, while hooker Michael Monaghan is the other field goal option landing three in 2007.
However, Lyon is preparing to be the less predictable match-winner.
"I will get in there and have a crack if they're getting marked," said Lyon.
"It would be a good time to kick my first one."
Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 4:21 PM
Manly sharpshooter Jamie Lyon says he's ready to resume goalkicking duties in Sunday's NRL grand final if captain Matt Orford's isn't up to the task.
Orford raised questions over whether his hamstring would hold up for spot kicking against Melbourne at Telstra Stadium, telling Thursday's grand final breakfast gathering he wouldn't practice shooting for goal until the muscle twinge had settled properly.
The Manly halfback said he would be ready to continue taking the goal attempts by Sunday, but five-eighth Lyon has put his hand up as a worthy replacement.
Lyon had been the Sea Eagles first-choice kicker earlier in the year until a foot injury after Origin prompted him to step aside for Orford.
He last shot for goal five weeks ago in New Zealand, but boasts a better record than Orford.
Lyon has landed 48 of 62 attempts at 77 per cent while Orford is slightly less at 42 of 59 shots at 71 per cent.
But Lyon says he will remain understudy unless called upon.
"I had a little bit of an injury on my foot early on so Ox has been doing it," said Lyon.
"He's been kicking pretty well. I've just left it with Ox and he's going pretty well so I don't think there's any need to change.
"I've been working on it at training though."
Orford said he was hopeful his hamstring would be 100 per cent by game day.
"It's not too bad, it was just some muscle tightness," said Orford.
"It was nothing serious. We managed it well in the early days and I've had a run with the team.
"Hopefully by Friday and Saturday I will have a kick and decide (whether I will kick in the grand final) by then.
"I have been fairly comfortable in that role and it's part of my game. If I can do it and can do it well I definitely want to do it."
Lyon, meanwhile, said he would also practice his field goal kicking this week in anticipation for a close grand final contest.
Orford booted the match-winner three minutes from fulltime in the Sea Eagles 13-12 win over Melbourne earlier this year, while hooker Michael Monaghan is the other field goal option landing three in 2007.
However, Lyon is preparing to be the less predictable match-winner.
"I will get in there and have a crack if they're getting marked," said Lyon.
"It would be a good time to kick my first one."
