Kiwi goalkicking great Darryl Halligan works with both Hazem El Masri of the Bulldogs and Parramatta's Luke Burt. Photo / Getty Images
SYDNEY - Bulldogs goalkicking great Darryl Halligan believes one kick could decide Friday's NRL preliminary final with Parramatta and he isn't concerned that his advice could sink his former club.
Halligan, one of the game's greatest goalkickers, has worked with several NRL clubs in 2009 and will attend a
session with Parramatta sharpshooter Luke Burt today just two days before the Eels and Dogs face off for a place in the grand final.
"I think it will more than likely go down to the wire," said Halligan.
"No finals game so far has been decided in the last 10 minutes, or last five minutes or last two minutes.
"I've got a funny feeling it might erupt on Friday night and that will be the case. I hope so too.
"I will be having a kick there (with Burt) tomorrow and we do that each week anyway.
"It will just be business as usual, for me I work with Canterbury guys and Parramatta.
"Next week I will have a goalkicker in the grand final either way around."
Halligan is no stranger to pressure kicking in preliminary finals against the Eels.
He landed a crucial conversion on fulltime in their 1998 clash after a spirited Bulldogs fightback to send the game into extra-time and eventual victory.
The Kiwi test player has worked with Hazem El Masri and Burt throughout their careers and says both players have the temperament to handle the pressure of trying to boot their teams into a grand final.
"Both teams are going really well in terms of goalkicking," he said.
"Both are really well served there and both are experienced and older guys.
"They should be able to handle the occasion better than a younger player.
"Both will probably want to kick the goal to win the match."
The one thing Halligan fears is the incredible momentum Parramatta carry into the grand final qualifier, comparing the Eels run to the Bulldogs' march towards the premiership in 1995.
"Parramatta this year running into the finals have got that momentum that we had in 1995 when we won the comp," he said.
"It's a pretty infectious thing."
- AAP
