Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam was left unimpressed with his side’s goal-kicking ability in their Challenge Cup defeat to Warrington Wolves, something he believes was a key factor to why they lost.
Initial post-match reaction saw Lam say that he thought his side had done enough to win the game, but just marginal errors in the most crucial periods is where Warrington were able to capitalise.
Another part of Warrington’s win was largely down to half-back Marc Sneyd, who used all his experience to control the game, but more importantly it was kick accuracy from the tee that helped Wire most.
Sneyd kicked four from five that afternoon, whilst Leigh could only slot over one from three. Both Adam Cook and Gareth O’Brien took attempts at goal, but neither could find the mark in the moments that mattered.
Speaking to the press earlier this week, Lam revealed how he has tried to combat their failed goal kicks, with the side putting in extra training to make sure they get it right next time.
Had Leigh have kicked their goals, they had a chance to lead the game by eight points with 20 minutes to go. Instead, they only led by four, which in Lam’s words led to a whole different mentality for both sides.
Asked who will kick this week and just how important those goals were, the boss said:Â Â “Yeah, Adam will kick again.
“I’ve had a conversation about it because the big part about rugby league is you’ve got to take your opportunities when they come.
“Those two goals were crucial for us. At the end of the day, when Lachie Lam scores, we kick that goal and the penalty before, we lead [by eight] with 20 odd minutes to go.
“Realistically, with the club and team we want to be, that should be game over in my opinion.
“That’s the expectation of me as a coach and that’s what I want and I need.”
Lam continued: “The effort’s there and you get those two goal kicks and Warrington’s underneath the posts with a different mindset,
“Whilst they still would have the belief, it’s a completely different mindset and so is ours in the way that we can manage that last 20 minutes. It certainly was a crucial part of the game and we can’t dwell on it now, it’s gone.
“We’ve got to make sure that moving forward that the best way to fix that is to keep trying and replicating that at training with the goal kicker and having separate sessions on that, which they’re doing.
“That was only one part really [of why we lost], but a big part and an area that we’ve got to learn from.”
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