Martin, NRL’s current sharp shooter

CANTERBURY Bulldogs sharpshooter Rhyse Martin’s, pictured, stunning goal-kicking accuracy this season has propelled him to the top of the charts for the most accurate goal-kickers the NRL has seen.
Martin, a Kumuls representative, admittedly has a long way to go to maintain his current rate over the length of time as names like Hazem El Masri, Adam Reynolds or even the man second on the list, Nathan Cleary.
The 25-year-old landed the first 13 attempts of his NRL career before missing one from the right touchline against the Rabbitohs in round 18. He has kicked 20 consecutive goals since to push his season — and career —record to 33 goals from 34 attempts at around 97per cent.
The list — restricted to players who have taken at least 30 shots at goal to eliminate the many players who had a 100 per centsuccess rate over a handful of attempts — is over-represented by recent players.
The other breakout sharpshooter of this year, Jamayne Isaako, is fourth with 81 goals at better than 84per cent and fringe Knights playmaker Brock Lamb is third after kicking seven from seven in limited chances this year to go with 23 from 28 last year.
Legendary goal-kickers Daryl Halligan and Johnathan Thurston both fail to make the top 10, with averages just below 80 per cent. Point-scoring machines Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith don’t get anywhere close, with each kicking at just under 75 per cent for the careers. It highlights the improvements in technique in recent times, possibly assisted by the use of kicking tees rather than the mounds of sand Halligan and Johns had to rely on when they started out.
Martin’s lofty average will almost certainly have to drop over time but it won’t necessarily be by too much given most of his attempts this year — even the tougher ones — never look like missing.
Martin humbly deflected praise of his stunning record this week, insisting he had yet to encounter a tough run at the tee. – NRL.com