Halligan to give the Raiders
kicking tips

He was once the greatest point-scoring machine in rugby league, but now Daryl Halligan will be passing on a few pointers to the Canberra Raiders.

Halligan began work today as Raiders goal-kicking coach, acting as an advisor to Canberra players such as Clinton Schifcofske, Matt Gafa and Todd Carney.

Halligan?s part-time role will include up to a dozen coaching sessions during the 2005 NRL season, as well as weekly expert analysis on the performance of Canberra?s kickers.

Halligan?s success is demonstrated by his students - past and present. He has worked with National Rugby League sides the Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks, including goal-kickers such as Hasem El Masri, Craig Fitzgibbon and Andrew Johns.

A New Zealand representative in 29 Test matches, Halligan has also worked with rugby union?s All Blacks and tutored kickers such as Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens.

Raiders assistant coach and former Brisbane Broncos goal-kicker Terry Matterson said the Raiders were serious about improving their accuracy in season 2005.

?It?s an area we?ve identified that we need improvement,? Matterson said. ?Two or three years back we had a really good percentage, but it?s dropped a little. It?s a really important area of the game and I think Daryl can help us get better.?

Raiders fullback Clinton Schifcofske, who scored a club-record 245 points for Canberra in 2001, is keen to return to top form with the boot after a lean year in 2004. He lost the kicking duties at one stage in 2004, but he will start next season as Canberra?s number one choice goal-kicker.

?Last year it was pretty disappointing, although I finished the year off all right. I think you?re struggling if you can?t take something away from Daryl because he?s probably the best kicker we?ve had in our game.?

When he retired from playing in 2000, Halligan was the greatest point-scorer of all-time in Australian rugby league. He scored 2034 points in 230 games for the North Sydney Bears and Bulldogs between 1991-2000. He is now second on the leading point-scoring list behind another retired player, Jason Taylor (2107 points).

Halligan said his focus was on refining a player?s natural style, not changing it.

?Goal-kicking is a pretty personal thing with most people. There?s some pretty accomplished kickers here at the Raiders, but hopefully we?ll see some improvement.?

His motto is simple - ?The more you do the better you are. Nothing beats hard work.?