NRL 2012 is underway and already there have been 2 matches decided by golden point. For those who don’t follow the NRL, the golden point comes into play when a match finishes with the scores level after 80 minutes
The match then goes into five minutes each way in extra time. The first team that scores a point during this extra time, whether its a field goal, penalty goal or try, wins the game, and the match finishes immediately.
How did the golden point rule come about?
In the 2002 State of Origin series, the third match finished in a draw, and therefore the series finished 1-1. At the time, there were criticisms that there wasn’t any extra time.
The following year, 2003, the NRL put in place a radical concept by implementing golden point in the NRL for every game. The first game that was affected was Manly versus Parramatta, with Manly winning via a Ben Walker penalty goal 36-34.
Since 2003, there have been 61 matches that have gone to golden point, with nine nine matches ending in a draw after 90 minutes, while 31 of those matches have been decided by a field goal.
The controversy surrounding the golden point rule is that both teams resort to trying to kick field goals, rather than been positive by going for a try. While it is exciting and tense, it can also be predictable.
A typical extra time finish goes something like this:
A team batters away for 5 tackles, gaining on average 50 metres up field, and if that team is in field goal range (about 40 metres out), the team’s play maker such as Jamie Soward or Benji Marshall (or someone with an ability to kick a field goal) would try for a field goal.
It does become a field-goal-athon. The other criticism of the golden point rule, is that the team that loses the match receives no points, which is the same as if another team loses a game by 40.
There has been talk to scrap it and go back to playing just 80 minutes and if it’s a draw, it’s a draw. Some others think that golden point should stay, but each team would have to eliminate a couple of players from each team when golden point commences.
Another suggestion is a golden try, where a team must score a try to win the game, and therefore, teams don’t go for field goals.
Here is my suggestion. When teams are level at full time, why don’t the teams play 5 minutes each way, and whichever team has the highest score at the end of extra time wins.
In other words, if a team concedes a field goal in the 84th minute, the game continues on until the 90th minute, which means it gives the opposition a chance to level it up with a field goal, or go for a try to win the game.
That way the game does become more unpredictable, and the teams would be playing positive football.
If the teams are still level after extra time, then its a draw.
Seeing as the NRL Commission have been so quick to dislodge the McIntyre finals system, maybe they could do the same with the golden point rule and replace it with my suggestion. Or any other system.
Just not golden point.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If you are going to have extra time then it needs to be golden try for 10 minutes with the following points system. 4 points for normal win 3 points for golden try win 2 points for golden try loss 2 points for both teams if they end extra time in a draw. No points for normal loss. This way you loss nothing by going for it in extra time, but still get the reward for the draw in normal time.
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
Well in my opinion it was/is ;) This is mostly because it gave teams a second chance, and if you won against a top-dog you were rewarded not just prolonging your demise
Charles
Guest
Rugby League is a team sport that goes for 80 minutes. If neither team is good enough to win, why should the time be increased? However, if people are not satisfied with a draw as the result it should be at the end of a certain time alotted, who scores the most This idea of who scores first is unfair as there could be an unfair advantage, such as who kicks off first, field positioning and so on!
JVGO
Guest
Why not make it 4 points for a golden point game won with a try, split points for a field goal win. I don't know where that leaves a penalty goal win. For me the problem with Golden point is that setting up for a field goal is not really the essence of the game and it feels quite hollow, a win with a try is more definitive and would be more satisfying and would deserve full points.
AndyMack
Guest
Plenty of teams (prob all of them...) have sponsor bonuses in place for making finals, so sneaking into 8th spot is a big deal, esp for some of the clubs who are not bankrolled by millionaires or big corporations.
AndyMack
Guest
McIntyre the fairest system??? You just lost some credibility there Bro.....
turbodewd
Guest
There is some merit to this...but at the end of the season the top 8 will always be the top 8. The best 2 teams will make the GF. Whether one or 2 teams have one more point or less wont make much diff. One team MIGHT miss 8th spot due to a golden point loss...hardly a travesty.
Superd
What has gone wrong with people that they need the instant gratification of a result (meaning a win or loss) in every competition game. You get a competition point for a draw - so what? Better than this inane bs of a field-goal-a-thon. That's so exciting. Why does rugby league need to tamper with things? For 95 years we accepted draws.
jamesb
Guest
"- 4 points for a regulation win. - 3 points for a GP win. - 1 point for a GP loss. - 2 points each for a GP draw after 90mins." I quite like that system. Its fairer for teams that draw matches after 80 minutes
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
But then all we'd have was a slighly better product than English Super League. The NRL's already got rid of one of its competitive advantages, let's not get rid of another. Obviously the NFL uses it too...but there's not so much competition between NRL and NFL, so keep the golden point. Certainly don't go back to awarding a draw after 80 mins...'silver point' prob the fairest system, but then again so was the McIntyre ;)
john
Guest
having a draw is worse then golden point there was a reason they changed the rule we didnt like a draw.
sheek
Guest
The previous system of drawn games in home & away regular season matches wasn't broken either..... but it was changed.....
Captain Kickass
Guest
Is it just me, or did this whole anti Golden Point sentiment arrive on our doorstep suddenly ? I thought we all liked GP games as they help derive a definitive outcome. Or is it (as I suspect) those on the wrong end of the result who are most dissatisfied ? (Can some bright spark please give a stats run down of GP winners and losers, so I can start pointing fingers ??? :p) Back to topic at hand : I heard some radio chat during the week which suggested we should adpot the following system ... - 4 points for a regulation win. - 3 points for a GP win. - 1 point for a GP loss. - 2 points each for a GP draw after 90mins. I like that concept on face value but I wonder if we change to that, what becomes of the F/A points ? In the event of teams on equal points after 26Rds, does the F/A points differential get relegated in the qualifications, replaced by "number of golden point losses" ? Overall : The current system isn't broken ... so why fix it ?
sheek
Guest
For me, the argument has never changed - since when was a draw a dirty word in home & away matches? Yes, have golden point after extra-time in finals matches. But if teams are level after 80 minutes in home & away regular season matches, leave it at that.
JVGO
Guest
How about first 5 mins golden try, second 5 mins open slather field goals and all.
turbodewd
Guest
That would be fine by me and most fans i think. (Overall golden point isnt the biggest issue we face by any stretch, its pretty low in the scheme of things.)
Ken
Guest
Don't really follow the argument that the losing team should get a point so they are not treated 'like a team that got beaten by 40'. Golden Point games are close games obviously, but you don't get a point for other close games so I think it's a pretty weak argument. I'm pretty ambivalent about Golden Point in general - don't think it's terrible but wouldn't mind just going back to old style draws either
Steve Brady
Guest
How about a Golden Try rule instead? Play 10 minutes of extra time and if either team scores a field goal or penalty goal, then play resumes until the end of the 90th minute. The exception being that if either side scores a try then that wins the game there and then and the game is over. Otherwise it's the team with the most points after 90 minutes that wins. If both have the same points, then the game is a draw.
turbodewd
Guest
The field goal is rarely seen in league which is fine, unlike in union where they are seen too often.
Fivehole
Guest
Ban the field goal. simple