The NRL’s Golden Point tie-breaker system has been in the targets of people other than Wayne Bennett this week thanks to Monday night’s lame duck finish.
What had been envisioned in its conception as an epic climax to obliterate drawn results had turned into the proverbial fart at a funeral, as both Cronulla and the Roosters spent the ten minute extra-time period shuffling around offside and attempting field goals that would take home the grand prize on ‘Australia’s Funniest Home Videos’.
Obviously this is not ideal, but what other options exist for John Grant and has disciples? With everyman and his cattledog chucking in his ideas let’s take a moment to evaluate each possible alternative to Golden Point.
Draw
Let’s start with the obvious one eh, being traditional and everything as it is.
A draw is essentially footy’s equivalent of ‘To be Continued.’ You’re all caught up in the contest, wondering how your team is going to escape from this one when suddenly you look up and realise there’s no time and Rhhhhhhhheeeeee!
It’s tune in again next week, Batfans.
There can be beauty in a draw, undoubtedly, just like there is beauty in a manual scoreboard and standing on a milk crate at the back of the hill.
This beauty fades rapidly upon repeat however, and sitting in the stand for your fourth draw of the year watching your team’s players wear blank expressions like they’ve just watched a Scandinavian arthouse movie sans subtitles can leave you hankering for something more.
Golden Try
Ahh this old chestnut, the professional version of your Aunty Ollie screaming “Next try wins!” at the post family christening BBQ despite the fact that you’ve just put fifty on your little cousin.
The idea has merit, because as everyone bar Elton Flatley realises the order of footy cool goes try, then goal, then field goal.
However, if players can’t muster the energy after 80min to knock over a half-decent drop kick, are we really expecting sweeping ‘94 Origin game one backline movements?
And despite being mainly used in rugby league to kill time before footy training, is it right to remove goals from our game as a scoring option?
If you can win in the 79th min with a field goal then to make it void two minutes later in extra time seems a little insulting to the Barry Glasgow’s of this world.
Player drop offs
A staple of touch football, this is the process where teams are required to shed a player from their team every so often in extra time until someone scores.
A couple of ex-NRL players, who by the sounds of things are still niggling and showing up the Peter Punters at their local oval, have spruiked this system. But I have my reservations.
Aside from issues with field size, average team possession times and excess game stoppages, do we really want to start borrowing ideas from touch?
For mine it’s a slippery slope to go knicking ideas off your bastard offspring. I worry that if this method is adopted soon we’ll have NRL teams called tacky things like ‘the Pirates,’ wearing jerseys with loud garish designs and an emphasis on speed rather than football skills.
Hang on a second…
Penalty Shootouts
“Ha ha ha wrong sport you gibbered,” I hear you chortle halfway through writing a nasty comment.
Well, maybe it’s not as farfetched as we (would like to) think.
The penalty shoot out, whereby five players from each side line-up to kick a goal from the 22, does exist in some rugby union competitions. Behold.
Thankfully Petero Civoniceva’s conversion attempt the other week has pretty much guaranteed us that the NRL isn’t going to embarrass its players (and in extension us fans) by trying to get them to step up to the tee.
And really, isn’t deciding an 80min smash-athon with kicking practice a bit like deciding a federal election with a game of Uno?
Extra time both ways
No wacky ideas. No tampering with rules. Just a bit of extra value for the fans wanting a result for sledging on the train ride home.
If was good enough for Steve Jackson in ’89 and by jingo it’s good enough for me!
Time we killed this golden goose once and for all.
Follow Chris on Twitter: Vic_Arious@twitter.com
chris sheehan
Guest
it should be golden try because golden point has been so prediccatiale
OldHand
Guest
OK, If you are going to have Golden Point for a draw, why not have Golden Point extra time for a game where a side is only 1 or 2 points behind; maybe in extra time they could catch up or even win. That's how stupid Golden Point is. A draw is a draw is a draw. How would you be if your team and another were equal 1st and playing each other in the last game of the season proper. Your team has + 400 and the other team has + 300. You should have the advantage of being able to play a draw and win the minor premiership. Brain into gear before mouth!
Easts
Guest
Javing a draw is boring and conservative. Coaches hate it because their teams lose in it. Maguire likes golden point because he usually wins those games and dinosaur Bennett lost against Saints have a cry. Goldne point is exciting. How about 10 minutes of extra time. We acknowledge that you guys like draws because both teams get rewarded but why get rid of this exciting system just because a coach whines. Not surprised if some of you are Tigers fans all you had to do was do the scrum properly and you'd be in the preliminary and possibly in the grand final. I understand that some of you believe that it should end in a draw because it was hard fought and both teams got same amount of points but lets not make this ga,e like pussy soccer.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Oiks, I have watched RL since the early fifties. I have ALWAYS hated the drop goal. As for Origin, I would have rather seen this game go into extra time than have my second favourite player score in this manner. I am advocating one change. get rid of a 'undefendable chicken way' of scoring points, reading your rants vrer the years, you have asked for much BIGGER changes to our game, in fact you are now openly supporting a BAD change by approving the Golden Point farce! --- I dislike this rule, but RL is my game and I will not consider changing my sport regardless of what the Dinosaurs and Muppets (Your expression), throw at me. Can the commission please get rid of the Gillard government and its people killing carbon tax!...
Meesta Cool
Guest
great point!.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I dislike penalty shoot outs!, HOWEVER: with this system both sides get equal shots at goal, unlike the crazy system that we adopted that gives advantage to the team that has the best 'shooter' or field advantage.. I have experienced the 'empty feeling of a draw, but it wears off after a few beers. If we must have a result play 10 mins extra time score stands at the end of this !. at least with this situation both teams should get equal opportunities to get into a 'shootathon'.. Oh and with the present system, you may as well play the last 10 minutes without referees....
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
1. Extra time, five minutes each way to be played in its entirety. 2. Unlimited tackle rule. 3. All other rules remain as they currently are.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
Moz82 has the best solution. To return to a a draw is ridiculous in an era when we are trying to expand, maximise TV revenue and attract new fans. Draws are anti-climatic leaving a hollow feeling at the end of the game, extra time = great excitement. Coaches opinions should be irrelevant on an issue like this. The only consideration should be "whats the best entertainment" and the answer to that is extra time, the form Moz82 has mentioned is certainly the best.
p.Tah
Guest
Re: penalty shoot out. When it happened some tried to talk it up saying it was a great idea, but I think they were trying to save the blushes of the fools who thought of it. I suspect (I hope) it's been well and truly shelved never to see the light of day. My thoughts for deciding a draw after extra time: 1. Team with most tries wins. If number of tries are equal go to 2. 2. Team who scored the first try wins. If no tries were scored, go to 3. 3. Team that scored first points wins (i.e. Penalty goal). If it was a nil all draw go to 4 4. Both teams should give themselves an upper cut and go and play another sport. Let's just split the points.
Mango Jack
Guest
Threat or promise, okee?!
Mango Jack
Guest
If he can go 'the full 80minutes', I'd love to know his secret!
Adam
Guest
Or here's a thought, players could just learn to kick properlyand the problem goes away
Its a Beets up
Guest
If that rule was implemented you certainly wouldn't want to finish number 2
LRR
Guest
I think the best and simplest option that wasn't mentioned is keeping extra time as it is, 5 minutes each way. Same League rules apply however if a field goal or drop goal is scored, play continues for the entire 10 minutes. Only way the clock is stopped is if a try is scored. This will in essence bring about 'golden try' but the fabric of the game will still be the same. It will also give teams the right of reply after a drop goal is scored to get their own goal back. Also be interesting if teams will try to even the score with another drop goal and go for a draw or go all out for the points with a try.
Will
Guest
I would advocate either of 2 options. One is for the 4 for a win, 3 for a GP win, 2 for a draw, 1 for a GP loss and 0 for a loss system (which has already been discussed here). The other option is to revamp Golden Point. Make it Golden Point by 2. i.e Try, or Penalty Goal or two field goals. If you kick a field goal, you're up by 1 but need to be ahead by 2 to win. So if you can get 2 field goals ahead you'll win. Then there is the option to also declare a winner after 10 minutes if one team is up by 1 or to still call it a draw. It's just an incentive to play attacking footy, not get to forty and have a shot. You've gotta win by 2 like volleyball or tennis etc.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Yep - agree that it advantages the team with first possession. I'm starting to come around to the 'I'm actually OK with a draw' school of thought.
turbodewd
Guest
The drop goal is rare, its not a blight on the game. Its a skill with a modest part in the game - it stays!
soapit
Guest
it also makes the game more interesting in the last 10 minutes of regulation time. do we go for the win and 2 points and risk getting zero or go for a draw and 1 point
Matt
Guest
I do not see how it could possibly be a spike in ratings. The odds of someone turning on the TV for the few minutes of extra time is very small. And I don't care about the last 3 minutes if I didn't watch the first 80.
soapit
Guest
thats not a spike. thats a drop in games that blow out. ur not comparing apples to apples there. you've gotta compare the golden point ratings to what they would have been if the game was a draw, a blowout