Every Super League game in 2024 decided by goal-kicking including vital Leigh Leopards win

As the halfway point of the 2024 season approaches, it’s already evident about how important good goal-kicking can be when it comes to edging tight contests.

There’s been several nip and tuck games we’ve already seen this year in the top flight, in which getting – or not getting – an extra two points on the board when presented with the opportunity has proven vital.

Having looked back over the first few months of action, we’ve compiled a list of the Super League games so far in 2024 that have been decided by the boot.

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Catalans Dragons 16-10 Warrington Wolves – February 17 – Round 1

Sam Burgess‘ first game in charge of Warrington ended in defeat, beaten by six points in the south of France by last season’s Grand Finalists Catalans.

Both sides scored two tries at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Round 1, with the Dragons converting both of theirs, and the visitors missing the first kick following their opening try from youngster Arron Lindop.

Arthur Mourgue also tagged on four more points via two successful penalties for Catalans, with the six points which won the game all coming via his boot.

Salford Red Devils 26-22 Castleford Tigers – February 25 – Round 2

Salford’s first win of the campaign came in their home opener against Castleford, and saw Papua New Guinea star Nene Macdonald shine in both defence and attack.

But given that both sides on the day got over for four tries, it was Marc Sneyd’s boot which ultimately made the difference, converting all four of the Red Devils’ four-pointers into six and tagging a further two points on with a second half penalty, taking the kicking tally to 5/5 and 10 points.

The Tigers – for reference – kicked three of their four goals, so even at 100%, Sneyd’s penalty would have proved decisive.

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Salford Red Devils 17-10 Hull KR – March 2, Round 3

It was a similar story two weeks on the spin for Salford, with Sneyd’s golden boot playing a monumental part in earning their victory against Hull KR.

Again, both sides scored two tries in that game. But by the time KR’s came in the second half, the Red Devils were already 16-0 up with Sneyd having converted both of their first half tries, and added two penalties after the interval.

Saluting the travelling Robins supporters in comedic fashion each time he slotted over, who gave him the stick you’d expect as a former Hull FC fan favourite, the playmaker also added a drop goal to make sure of the win after the Robins had clawed it back to 16-10.

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Hull FC 28-24 London Broncos – March 3, Round 3

The following day, we saw newly-promoted London come mightily close to their first win of the campaign. It wasn’t to be with Hull‘s Morgan Smith scoring the winning try late on, but had the Broncos been more successful with the boot, they would have walked away from the MKM Stadium with the victory their gutsy performance perhaps deserved.

That Smith try levelled things up at five apiece in terms of tries scored, with Darnell McIntosh‘s conversion extending the Black and Whites’ advantage out to four points with his fourth two-pointer, missing just once. The Broncos missed three of their five efforts at goal. Convert those three, and they’d have departed East Yorkshire with the two competition points, even with the late Smith try. A story of what could have been.

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Hull KR 20-22 Warrington Wolves – March 7, Round 4

Next is Round 4 clash between the Robins and Warrington at Craven Park, won by the visitors by just two points.

Admittedly, Warrington actually scored one further try than the Robins, missing a whopping four kicks with Josh Thewlis‘ conversion of George Williams’ early opening try their only success with the boot. Accordingly, it could have been a much more plain sailing evening for the visitors.

But, importantly, flip it around and KR will be – pardon the pun – kicking themselves for their own lack of success with the boot. Hooker Jez Litten put four points on the board with conversions, but the Robins missed two other attempts including one from James Batchelor. Had those two gone over, the story is a different one, and it’s the hosts who win the game by two points.

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St Helens 20-24 Salford Red Devils – March 8, Round 4

The Saints’ first defeat of 2024 was one effectively decided by goal-kicking – and again, it was the razor-sharp boot of Marc Sneyd that proved decisive in settling a contest.

Both sides scored four tries each, but Mark Percival missed two of his three attempts at goal (Lewis Dodd kicked one from one). In contrast, Sneyd kicked four from four, giving Salford another narrow victory courtesy of accuracy from the boot.

Warrington Wolves 16-14 Leigh Leopards – April 20, Round 8

Warrington’s start to life under Sam Burgess continued with a hard-fought victory over Leigh in mid-April, another game that was decided via accuracy from the kicking tee.

The Wolves weren’t perfect in that regard, with Josh Thewlis converting two of Warrington’s three tries. However, while Leigh also scored three tries, Matt Moylan kicked just one of his three attempts at goal. It meant the Wire snuck home by two points.

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Huddersfield 16-18 Salford Red Devils – May 3, Round 10

Once again, Salford feature on this list for all the right reasons!

They picked up another huge victory courtesy of their goal-kicking, with Marc Sneyd once again proving to be the difference in a close contest.

He converted all three of Salford’s tries away at Huddersfield, while Jake Connor only converted two from three for the Giants. It meant that Sneyd’s goal-kicking once again secured an extra point for the Red Devils.

Huddersfield 10-16 Leigh Leopards – May 24, Round 12

Another narrow defeat at home for Huddersfield where goal-kicking proved to be the difference – this time Leigh Leopards being the beneficiaries.

Both the Giants and the Leopards scored two tries apiece but the hosts could only convert one of their tries through the boot of Oliver Russell. In contrast, Leigh star Matt Moylan kicked all four of his attempts at goal, including two penalties.

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