导出博客文章With the opening round of Super League XXI fast approaching, Jon Wells takes a
look at the top five potential game changers for 2016. In compiling his top
five, Jon looked at both the players individual ability but perhaps more
importantly the way in which they will effect positive change for the team they
has joined.Heres who made the cut ahead of the new season... 5. Sam Tomkins
(Wigan Warriors) Tomkins returns from the NRL as a much better player, says Jon
Wells Beaten Grand Finalists for the last two seasons, the return of Tomkins is
a massive boost for Wigan. Notwithstanding Matty Bowens superb contribution to
the Warriors during that period, I think that you will see a better developed
player returning to his hometown club in 2016 despite differing opinions of his
success or otherwise in the NRL.Sams time in Australia will have undoubtedly
made him a better player. It was clear from watching him in his time at the New
Zealand Warriors that he has developed into a fine defensive fullback which was
perhaps his least strong point (in a whole list of strong points) as a
modern-day attacking number 1. Add to that 15 try assists in his 37 game spell
with the NRL outfit and a clearer picture emerges of what Tomkins will be
bringing back with him to the UK.Hes a class act, this is his club, and from a
competitive perspective there will not be a head coach in Super League who will
enjoy seeing his name at the head of the Wigan team sheet this year. People are
expecting big things; and I reckon hell deliver.4. Ryan Hampshire (Castleford
Tigers) Castlefords Ryan Hampshire In my opinion, the skys the limit for the
Warriors loanee Hampshire. The return of Tomkins and the continued development
of Lewis Tierney and in particular George Williams and his burgeoning
partnership with Matty Smith means Wigans loss for 2016 is very much Castlefords
gain.Luke Gale is nailed on for the No 7 jersey this season but the Tigers
tinkered with their stand-off position throughout 2015 with Ben Roberts and Liam
Finn making the most serious claims. However, my feeling is that Roberts is
best-used in the hooking role in tandem with Adam Milner. With Finn moving on to
the Wildcats, Hampshires preference and natural ability could mean a new spark
for the Tigers to augment an already formidable - and much better balanced -
squad for 2016.Hell be a key player for the Tigers in their push to surpass
their revolution as a major force in Super League since the arrival of Daryl
Powell.3. Frank Pritchard (Hull FC) Frank Pritchard playing in his final game
for the Bulldogs before heading to Hull FC A devastating forward at his best,
Pritchard provides huge scope for Hull FC this season. He joins them as a New
Zealand and Samoan international player from Canterbury Bulldogs and one look at
his highlight reel will show you all you need to know about what he can bring to
a side. A huge hitter in defence and blessed with superb hands, Pritchard has
the potential to spearhead this Hull FC pack who relied so heavily on Gareth
Ellis and Mark Minnichiello last year. The reason the above is peppered with
words such as scope and potential surrounds Pritchards state of mind; he can be
a world-beater if he is dialed into the job at hand but has mis-fired in the
past.Never has there been so much pressure on a Head Coach as there is this
season to ensure his big name signing delivers. But Im an optimist; Lee Radford
is a leader - always has been; Pritchard is a winner - and still can be; and
Hull FC are a massive presence in Super League.This could be a defining season
for player, coach and club.2. Brett Ferres (Leeds Rhinos) Leeds Rhinos and
England forward Brett Ferres Off-setting the loss of Sinfield, Peacock and
Leuluai was always going to be a huge challenge for the Rhinos. I use the term
off-setting as opposed to replacing because I do feel - certainly in the case of
Sinfield and Peacock - that these two were simply irreplaceable. The Rhinos will
be keen to see the return of Liam Sutcliffe from a lengthy absence after a
serious knee injury, and they have added some real grunt up front with the
transfer in of Keith Galloway from Wests Tigers, but Ferres is going to be a
major player for the Rhinos in 2016. His stock has risen dramatically in the
last three seasons and his off-loading ability will really suit Leeds brand of
rugby.You also have to think about what his inclusion will do to the rest of the
team; I see him competing directly with the likes of Stevie Ward, Jimmy
Keinhorst and Jamie Jones-Buchanan and certainly with respect to the former two
I feel this can only be a positive for their continued development and to the
Rhinos as a whole. To have such strength in depth in a pack which has just said
goodbye to two of its mainstays and most dependable players is a huge boost and
will mean the Rhinos will have selection headaches rather than selection worries
at the back end of the season.1. Glenn Stewart (Catalans Dragons) Catalans
Glenn Stewart Joins the Catalans Dragons franchise from the NRLs South Sydney
Rabbitohs and brings with him a wealth of big game experience. An Australian
international, Stewart may well be the missing piece of the jigsaw for the
Dragons; a much-needed ball-playing forward that could really help Richie Myler
and Todd Carney. He will give them options at the line which usually ended up in
2015 in Morgan Escares hands. Escare is a fine, fine runner of the ball, but he
is young and still learning the passing side of his game.The addition of
Stewart, along with a little manipulation of how the Dragons set up their
attacking shape, may well help the Dragons find the space on the edge in which
they excel. That would allow Escare to concentrate on what he does best and push
the Perpignan based side deep into the play-offs in 2016.Hes my one to watch
above all others in 2016 and could well be the catalyst which sends the Dragons
into or close to a major final.Watch Leeds v Warrington live on Sky Sports 2 HD
on Thursday from 7pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. Also
See: Super League preview Clarke: Ones to watch Follow @SkySportsRL RL on Sky
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From China . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. The
idea was to put some excitement into NFL extra points. On Sunday, it became
unwise to head to the fridge when the kickers came in.A dozen times in Week 11,
those 1-pointers became no-pointers. Blame the swirling winds. Blame the suspect
blocking. Blame sloppy holding.Or point fingers at the toes of Mike Nugent and
Robbie Gould, who each missed a pair of PATs. Not to mention Stephen Gostkowski
and Steven Hauschka. Connor Barth and Kai Forbath. Matt Prater and Cody Parkey.
And Jason Myers, who failed on seven extra points last season -- yep, seven --
and still kept his job with the Jaguars.It just drives me crazy to have a poor
performance that contributes to a loss, said Nugent, whose Bengals fell 16-12 to
Buffalo. Had he made both extra points, a field goal late in the game could have
won it for Cincinnati.Thats the second time thats happened this year, that Ive
contributed enormously to a loss. If I did what I was brought here to do, wed
have two less losses, in my opinion.Several kickers noted they were compensating
for the wind, particularly the Giants Gould and the Bears Barth, who
coincidentally replaced the veteran Gould in Chicago this season. Kicking in the
Meadowlands has never been a picnic, and conditions figure to get worse there
and in many other NFL cities as the schedule moves along.But one of the main
reasons for bringing in veteran kickers -- Myers is in his second pro season,
Hopkins and Parkey their third, but the rest are pretty seasoned NFLers -- is
their ability to handle such challenges, mentally and physically.They failed in
record numbers Sunday.The first one I hit was where I was hitting them in
pregame, Gould said. I thought I made it and it went outside the left upright.
The second one I just didnt hit a good ball. Today was tough, but I have to make
them.His coach, Ben McAdoo, was giving Gould the benefit of the doubt.It was a
tough day to kick the football, McAdoo admitted, also knowing it was his
decision to bring in Gould after the Giants waived Josh Brown in October
following revelations about his abusive behavior toward his former wife.Well go
back, well look at it, well talk about everything. The wind obviouslly was a
factor every time you had a play in the kicking game today.ddddddddddddThat was
not the case in Detroit. Ford Field is indoors, yet Prater and Myers had
misses.So whats going on when a two-time All-Pro such as Gostkowski misses three
PATs in the last five games? Or Hauschka has an extra-point kick blocked in
successive games?Not to mention perhaps the play of the year last weekend, when
Denver ran back a blocked extra point against New Orleans for a defensive
2-point conversion that won the game?A 33-yard kick should be automatic for
virtually every NFL kicker, yet we know, 12 times over on Sunday, that is not
true.Among the factors contributing are pressure, over-analysis, poor mechanics,
weak blocking and, well, bad luck.Before last year, when the new rule placed the
ball at the 15 for extra-point kicks, little thought or preparation was needed
for such chip shots. Now, kickers -- and holders, snappers and blockers -- do
need to think about the kicks. But they dont get a whole bunch of extra
practices on them.Kickers traditionally are a quirky bunch. That isnt
necessarily a bad thing; just look at how successful Sebastian Janikowski has
been for the Raiders.But they also are prone to thinking too hard about kicks.
Why else would opposing coaches try to ice them?Bad weather, particularly
slippery surfaces and wind, have a huge effect. A wet ball is much harder to
boot accurately, as well as more difficult to snap and hold. Uncertain footing
plagues kickers legs and psyches.As for the wind, thats the enemy of everyone
but defenders on a football team.So those excuses sometimes work, though, again,
not in the friendly kicking confines of a dome.The biggest issue for kickers
comes when they get in a rut. Unlike other positions that require deep knowledge
of a playbook, kickers and punters are much more on their own. When placekickers
cant find the middle of the uprights, they usually find themselves on their own
and off the roster.---For more NFL coverage:
http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL. ' ' '
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