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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Without further ado, here is this week's edition: field goal exponents.
1. Daly Cherry-Evans
DCE’s strike-rate of 22 field goals in 243 games measures up favourably to most exponents of the art, but his clutch ability in the field goal pocket is second to none. Cherry-Evans has steered Manly to an incredible nine one-point wins via a field goal off his boot.
Among his more remarkable efforts were a 78th-minute equaliser and a left-footed golden point winner in one game against the Warriors in 2017, and another left-footed snap to thwart the Sharks in golden point last year.
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