KEY POINTS:
These days, when Michael Witt bends down to place the ball on the kicking tee, it doesn't matter where on the field he's located. It doesn't even matter which field he's playing on. Gale-force wind blowing directly across the posts? So what. Witt knows what the end result is going to be.
'Zone', 'bubble', call it what you will. Witt is in it. That rare but sought after plane for a sportsman where confidence combines with technique to form an unshakeable bond.
HE JUST CAN'T MISS.
"It is always nice to be setting up the ball and feel confident it is going to go over," said the phlegmatic Witt ahead of Sunday's trip to Tiger country.
"Wherever I'm kicking from now I feel I can kick the goal, so I guess confidence does play a big part in what you are doing."
Witt's run of 25 consecutive successful shots has taken him to within 10 of Hazem El Masri's all time record of 35.
"It's good to be kicking well and it's helping the team," he said. "But in terms of the records and stuff that are being mentioned, it doesn't really matter."
Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?
But there's no doubting, as the record edges closer, the pressure on every kick will increase exponentially.
The thing with bubbles is they all burst sometime.
"It is good to have a bit of a streak because it means you are kicking well but it only takes one kick that you don't hit properly and the streak is finished. I think if you get too carried away with it, it probably hinders what you are doing."
Given his performance to date, it's almost unthinkable that Witt began the season as the Warriors' second-choice kicker. His current streak actually began with two goals in his only first grade appearance for Manly last season. He may have had an excellent pedigree from his days at Parramatta and Manly, but Tony Martin was the incumbent, meaning Witt had to bide his time.
"With Marto being out injured I got the chance to kick and I've been happy with the way I'm kicking. I was still practising all the time when Marto was kicking so I felt confident when I was asked to do it."
Having come to Auckland on a one-year deal that was quickly extended to three, Witt is also happy enough with his progress at the club. Despite coach Ivan Clearly having fiddled with his halves combination, Witt has been a steady presence, missing just the one game through suspension.
"I came here looking for an opportunity to get myself back in first grade and I've done that so far this year. But the big thing about this club is that you can't really get comfortable in your position. You've got to be playing well to get picked."
Six consecutive losses sandwiched between a record start and a positive recent revival have made for a roller-coaster of a first Warriors season for a player who was this week once again voted the best looking bloke in the league.
"That's the NRL," he said, talking about results rather than his looks.
"It doesn't take much for you to go off your game and you can get rolled by any team on any day. The biggest thing in the NRL is being consistent and a lot of teams have struggled with it. We'd like to think that over the last few weeks we've been pretty consistent and that we can continue to do that.
"Every game there is pressure, every week there is pressure. But we are probably the hardest on ourselves. We feel like we are a good enough team to be playing semifinals.
"Now it is about proving that on the field and being there at the end of the year."
One of Witt's key functions on Sunday will be to test out the Tigers' rookie 21-year-old fullback Shannon Gallant. His goalkicking may have been flawless but the same can't be said of his tactical kicking. Witt knows the onus will be on him to get it right on Sunday to ensure Gallant feels the heat on his NRL debut.
"When you first come into grade, people are always going to test you out. Every player goes through that. But you don't get to play first grade by not being a good player.
"We don't really know that much about him but, being at fullback, there's a chance that we can test him out and I'm sure we'll do that."
If Gallant does spill the pill and the Warriors score, chances are the try will be worth six points.
