NRL: Locke's stock rising

Kevin Locke has been training with NRL legend Daryl Harrigan. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors' goal-kicking responsibilities look set to be placed on a tee at the feet of Kevin Locke for today's NRL match against the Broncos.

After Brett Seymour's broken thumb ruled him out for up to eight weeks, Locke has been working with Seymour, Aaron Heremaia and James Maloney in a group of back-up kickers.

The 20-year-old wing has proven adept in the past, right back to his days in the 2008 National Youth Competition (NYC), where he finished second top scorer with a success rate of 80 per cent.

He's since kicked 24 goals in 14 NRL matches.

However Locke felt he let himself down last week in the win over the Sharks, booting two goals from four attempts.

"I had a shocker but hopefully Ivan [Cleary, the coach] will give me another opportunity. I'll be a bit upset if I don't get it, because I've been keeping up the practice despite a few recent niggles due to knee pain."

That pain has been exacerbated by continuing difficulties with the rotator cuff around his shoulder blade.

"I didn't get it sorted out over summer once I got picked for the Kiwis, so it is still sore with a minimum range of movement.

"I'm looking to get through to the end of the season but at times I'm struggling to catch above my head. It even locks up at times. If it gets worse I could be out for a few weeks."

Locke devotes about three hours a week to working on his pendulum strike through the line of the ball, sometimes under the watchful eye of former NRL kicking recordholder Daryl Halligan, who is contracted for such purposes.

"The team has plenty of options but I imagine Kevin will start the game as goalkicker," Halligan said.

"He's handy, however all of them [Heremaia and Maloney as well] will be required to kick at some stage in the competition.

"There's definitely a workload associated with the skill. They should be doing at least three 40-minute spells a week.

"So while Kevin didn't have such a flash night against the Sharks it doesn't mean it'll be the same this week. You can't judge goalkicking week-to-week, especially in round two."

Coach Cleary tries not to meddle in the kicking coaching too much, despite his own formidable goalkicking record in an 11-season first-grade career.

"I do have the experience but don't play a role in the actual hands-on coaching. Having said that, I like to look at the kicking to get a feel for who is doing the best job.

"There's no doubt Kevin is keen and he's probably got the inside running but he's had a few niggling injuries and that can affect how much training you do.

"I'm happy, though, provided he keeps doing the work. I know he can kick better than he did last weekend. I'm not too worried, but I do like seeing the ball go through the posts," he added drily.

Cleary has also appreciated Halligan's input:

"He's been spending a lot of time with them, he was over from Australia on the weekend and had a chat to the boys after the game. He's conscious of keeping them practising because a lot of it is about confidence."

"Daryl's built a routine they go through, but in my day there were no goalkicking coaches. It was trial and error - you worked it out as you went along.

"There's also an element of success coming when you know you've done the work during the week."