The NRL’s introduction of the two-point field goal for successful kicks from beyond the 40-metre line was derided as one of the more pointless rule changes of recent times.
But despite the assumption that it would be a rarely-used commodity, we’ve already seen Adam Reynolds boot the first two-point field goal in Round 5 and Nathan Cleary slot a crucial deadlock-breaker a week later.
To celebrate the elusive art of the field goal, Will Evans from This Warriors Life ranks the best exponents of the NRL era in this week’s Zero Tackle Top 8.
Some the most clutch, sweet-striking field goal kickers of the modern era, including Shaun Johnson, Anthony Milford, and icon match-winners Johnathan Thurston and Andrew Johns, couldn’t squeeze into this list.
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And give Will's other Top 8 stories a read below!
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Miraculous comebacks of the NRL era
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Without further ado, here is this week's edition: field goal exponents.
6. Braith Anasta
Anasta possessed the invaluable ability to land the field goals that mattered. The oft-maligned pivot’s field goal was the difference in City Origin’s 17-16 defeat of Country in 2003 and he landed ten one-pointers in five seasons for the Bulldogs.
But three field goals following his mid-career switch to the Roosters stand out even brighter – a 38-metre beauty in a 31-all draw with the Warriors in 2007; one of the all-time great field goals in the 2010 finals, after the siren to force the Roosters’ match against the Tigers into extra-time; and a golden point winner to sink the Eels the following season.
The last of Anasta’s 18 NRL field goals – in his second-last game before hanging up the boots – broke a late deadlock to give Wests Tigers a 19-18 victory over Canberra.
