Every week that an NRL match ends in golden point, complaints of injustice are heard from everywhere. Well, usually from the losing team, but I digress.
This has driven many fans, as well as former players and experts, to suggest new options for what happens after a drawn match.
Here are four of the most viable.
1. Golden point
Some will argue that if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Golden point is an exciting and frantic way to end a drawn footy match, and makes for fantastic televised viewing (just look at last year’s grand final). However, many argue that it’s unfair to teams, especially considering you could potentially lose just because of the coin toss.
The other complaint is golden point has turned into a field goal-a-thon, and that isn’t how rugby league is meant to be played.
Another part of this option that’s been suggested is re-scaling the competition points system to grant one point to any team that loses in golden point, which is an idea that has some merit.
2. Golden try
Golden try is an interesting option that many fans have been vocal about. As the name suggests, instead of extra time turning into “Planet field goal,” as Andrew Voss used to say, teams will instead play ‘real footy’ and be forced to attempt and score a try, but still with the entertaining suspense of extra time. This idea also has its merits, and is one that should be discussed by the NRL.
3. End the match as a draw
This is one that Wayne Bennett and other experts are a fan of. The idea is if both teams are unable to be separated after 80 minutes, we just shake hands and call it a draw the way the old blokes used to do it. Although this seems like the fairest way to do things, it doesn’t make for entertaining viewing.
Broadcasters probably wouldn’t be a big fan of the new rule either, but if the NRL were trying to fix extra time purely based on fairness, this would be the right option.
4. 10-minute halves
This is the final option making the rounds at the moment. The suggestion is, like it once was in the NRL, that teams play out two extra 10 or five-minute halves, and whatever the score is after that time is the final result. Many have called for this system to be used in finals matches, as it seems to be one of the fairer systems.
These four options all the potential to benefit the NRL, and each should be discussed by NRL HQ. If it were up to me, we’d introduce golden try.
But there are plenty of other opinions out there. Comment below what you think the best way is to end a drawn game.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Like most clubs, the Brisbane Broncos have had their fair share of big boppers over the years, many of them legends of the game.…
South Sydney have the bye this week, but that hasn't stopped their bad luck with injuries. They have now lost starting front rower Tevita…
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
Billy Slater says the door is open for Queensland's middle forwards to force their way into the squad for the State of Origin opener…
Friday night’s clash between Parramatta and the Dolphins is likely to be a hot one – and not just because the game is being…
Some of the best TV we'll see all year!
