NZ Warriors prop Jackson Ford shelves kicking game in breakout season
Photo:
www.photosport.nz
Warriors v Panthers
Kickoff: 5pm Sunday 21 June
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
NZ Warriors supersub Jackson Ford has promised to put his fledgling kicking game away, as he turns his attention back to the core skills of his new role for the NRL high-flyers.
During a campaign that has seen a myriad of changes throughout the Warriors pack, Ford's unerring contribution off the bench has proved a godsend, but every now and then, he's capable of something that shocks even coaches and teammates.
Three weeks ago, with his team trailling 12-4 against South Sydney Rabbitohs and time running out in the first half, he dribbled a delicate kick to the tryline that eluded scrambling defenders and his own impeded chase, but sat up for Warriors centre Rocco Berry to score.
That audacious act had eyes rolling in the clubhouse.
"Don't kick it, Jacko, don't kick it… oh, great kick, Jacko," coach Andrew Webster re-enacted afterwards.
"He's carrying on a bit," winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak chuckled. "I thought he was going to kick it to me, but he backed himself and we got a result from it, so good on him."
Lock Erin Clark revealed: "He went out with the kickers and catchers [at training] today - it's gone to his head."
Ford seems to have heard the whispers and is happy to leave the kicking to those more polished around him.
"I think that's one and done for me," he admitted. "Might have worked out all right, but I think I'll put that in the back pocket."
Truth be told, the Warriors don't need any extra-curricular exploits from Ford - they've received great value from him already, as he embraces not only a change of position from edge to middle, but also a delayed entry into the contest on the interchange.
"We've got so much flexibility with Jacko," Webster said. "He's started plenty of times at back row before, so he knows that role.
"He can come off the bench and do a really good job. He plays big minutes and has a big motor, so there's so much flexibility in that."
Webster has used that ability as a 'bait and switch' this season, sometimes naming Ford to start in the front row, but dropping him back to bench before kickoff.
He was initially handed Mitch Barnett's No 10 jersey against Cronulla Sharks for their last outing, after the co-captain suffered a season-ending injury against Souths, but sure enough, that selection didn't stick.
"Some of it has just been through circumstance," Webster admitted. "[Hooker] Sam Healey coming in to start last week and Kurt Capewell moving into the centres just complicates things, then you've got to move things late.
"There's a method to the madness, but we know Jacko can do both and he's been outstanding all year."
Many players can't adjust egos to a bench role, considering it some kind of demotion, but Ford seems to cherish the job, knowing he will still get starters' minutes with his high workrate.
When star front-rowers Barnett (State of Origin) and James Fisher-Harris (suspension) were out against Canberra Raiders last month, Ford had the distinction of leading his team in both running metres (209) and tackles (43) - a feat matched by only three players this season.
Rocco Berry scores a try from Jackson Ford's kick against the Rabbitohs.
Photo:
David Neilson/Photosport
His achievement came in just 55 minutes, while the others - Terrell May twice for Wests Tigers, Patrick Carrigan for Brisbane Broncos and Keaon Koloamatangi for South Sydney - needed more.
Ford had no idea.
"I don't look much into stats, I just put best foot forward for the team and hopefully stats will come off that," he said.
"I don't mind if it's starting or coming off the bench, I'm just trying to do the best for the team.
"If it's coming off the bench, I just try to bring energy, coming on, and taking that first carry or first tackle. Whatever role it is, I'm happy to take it.
"It's always good to come on, after the starters have laid that platform for you and there are a few tired bodies in the middle there. Hopefully, you can take advantage of a bit of fatigue in their legs."
If there's one thing he's tried to improve in his game, it's self-belief.
"Mentally, if I make an error, I've had a hard time brushing it," he said. "I've just been trying to work on that."
In that context, a daring grubber kick here or there is a welcome sign of self-expression - especially if it pays dividends - but are there any other tricks left up his sleeve?
"Maybe the long ball to the winger," Ford grinned. "I'll tell Dallin to be ready."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
35 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: No injury subs in New Zealand
The slip cordon for Northern Districts in a Plunket Shield match in 2019. Photo: Photosport Cricket powerhouses Australia, England and India will trial injury replacements in domestic first-class cricket but New Zealand will not. A change to the International Cricket Council playing conditions means from October, for an initial six-month period, a player who suffers a serious injury on the field of play at any time after the match has started (including any pre-match warm-up period) may be replaced for the remainder of the match by a fully participating like-for-like player. The concept is being trialled by ICC full member nations in multi-day domestic competitions to see if in future it could be introduced to Test matches. Currently test cricket does not allow full injury substitutes, however since 2019 concussed players have been able to be replaced during matches. India's trial will allow for a player to be replaced for an external injury, such as a broken bone or a dislocated shoulder, but Australia has plans to allow a substitution for any injury that rules a player out of the game including hamstring concerns or torn muscles. New Zealand Cricket would not be following suit for the centenary season of the Plunket Shield which starts on 18 November. "Our Major Association teams travel with just 12 players for Plunket Shield matches so, unlike the home team, the away team wouldn't be able to replace on a like-for-like basis without additional travel/assembly costs," a spokesperson said. England test captain Ben Stokes has called the discussion around the potential of injury replacements "ridiculous". "There will just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through," Stokes said last month. "You pick your 11 for a game, injuries are part of the game, completely understand the concussion replacement because that's player welfare, player safety, but I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because you stick me in an MRI scanner I could get someone else in straight away and you stick anyone else in an MRI scanner and a bowler is going to show 'oh yeah you've got a bit of inflammation around your knee, oh sweet you can get another fresh bowler in.' "I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped." Whereas former England captain Michael Vaughan is a fan of the move towards injury replacements. The idea was put under the spotlight when India's wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant injured his foot on day one of the fourth Test against England in July and an injured England bowler Chris Woakes came out to bat with his arm in a sling in the fifth test between the two nations. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
NZ Rugby and Sky seal new broadcast deal with TVNZ
Sky and NZ Rugby have announced a new broadcast deal Photo: Masanori Udagawa New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has confirmed a new broadcast deal with Sky from 2026-2030 with TVNZ to screen provincial games free-to-air. Sky will continue to broadcast all All Blacks, Black Ferns, Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Aupiki and NPC and Farah Palmer Cup matches. Up to five offshore All Blacks and Black Ferns Test matches respectively during the period are not included in the domestic broadcast agreement. Jorja Miller of New Zealand makes a break, O'Reilly Cup, New Zealand Black Ferns v Australia Wallaroos. Photo: Kerry Marshall/ NZR hopes these matches will give it the ability to generate additional income if confirmed. Rights to broadcast these matches will be negotiated on a match-by-match basis at the time. No financial details have been revealed, though NZR chairperson David Kirk said the governing body was pleased with the deal. "We're delighted to confirm this new agreement with our long-term partner Sky, which will see Sky remain the home of rugby in New Zealand. The next five years are exciting for fans, with the best domestic competitions in the world and an amazing international calendar for our All Blacks and Black Ferns, including a men's and historic first women's British & Irish Lions tour," Kirk said. TVNZ will become NZR's free-to-air provincial rugby partner, which includes all NPC matches and select Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship games. "We are pleased to partner with TVNZ to provide expanded free-to-air coverage of provincial rugby," Kirk said. "New Zealanders will have more ways to watch rugby than ever before over the next five years." NZR has reserved the right to play up to five offshore All Blacks and Black Ferns matches respectively over the five-year term from outside the scheduled competitions, to support its efforts to increase its revenue base. New Zealand rights to broadcast such matches will be negotiated on a match-by-match basis at the time. David Kirk. Photo: Photosport Kirk said NZR was focused on improving access to rugby for fans through this broadcast agreement and NZR's wider content strategy, supported by exciting domestic and cross-border competitions and a block-buster international calendar. "The Black Ferns will take part in a new international women's calendar from next year that will see them play more Test matches against the best teams in the world. We also have some exciting announcements to make in the coming months to confirm the All Blacks calendar, including new competitions and tours." The agreement with TVNZ will see 93 provincial matches available free-to-view on TVNZ+, with three games a week in appointment viewing slots on TVNZ 1. These matches will also be shown co-exclusively live on Sky. "We see this as a win-win-win outcome - a secure revenue stream to support NZR in investing in rugby; Sky remaining our partner and the home of rugby; and a win for our fans as they will have more options and channels for viewing rugby," Kirk said. Kirk said there was much to be positive about in terms of the financial outcome, the expansion of rugby coverage and fan access. "We have seen positive broadcast numbers on Sky for the All Blacks and Black Ferns this year and the Super Rugby Pacific Final enjoyed its best viewership since 2016." Kirk said NZR will now focus on finalising its international broadcast agreements.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football Ferns to take on USA
Emma Rolston - during a women's international friendly game between the New Zealand Football Ferns and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, 2023. Photo: DJ Mills / PHOTOSPORT The Football Ferns will play the USA in Kansas City in October. It is the first fixture for New Zealand in the October FIFA window. The game against the World Number 2 and Olympic Champions will be at the home of the Kansas City Current NWSL team on Thursday 30 October (Wednesday 29 October local time). The game marks the 22nd time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level. This year the Ferns have had a win and a draw against Costa Rica and a win and a loss against Venezuela. "Our strategy in the first half of 2025 was to use the initial international windows to really work on our playing style, and it has been great to see the players buy into that with some good success on the pitch," Ford Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne said. "We now need to challenge ourselves against some really top sides to see how we are processing, and the USA are the ultimate test for that. "Knowing we start our FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying journey in early 2026, we want to use the rest of this year to make sure we are in the best place not just to qualify for, but perform at, the tournament. "We have made progress, but we know there is still work to do to ensure we achieve our goal of getting out of our group in Brazil in 2027." The Ford Football Ferns will be playing in both the October and November 2025 FIFA match windows, before starting FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 qualifying in February 2026. The finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 - Oceania Qualifiers are set to be played in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in April 2026. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
