Here we go again. The rugby league community is once again imploding. On Monday night this week, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks fought out a 14-14 draw with the Sydney Roosters at Toyota Park.
The game was not the best or the most exciting but nevertheless it was still a game of football.
People have since slammed the concept of golden point and it is now all the media can talk about. There has been calls for reviews, calls for the concept to be dropped and calls for it to remain, and I just can not get my head around it. Why do we want to take away something that makes our sport so unique?
I am a very big supporter of the system we call golden point. In 2006, just three years after its introduction, my beloved Melbourne Storm played out against the Penrith Panthers in a thrilling golden point decider. The teams went into the extra period locked up at 16-16, and my nerves were at an all time high. The game was back and forth, up and down, left and right, east and west. It had it all. The Storm then finally popped over a field goal, winning the game 17-16.
I felt an extreme sense of jubilation as that kick went over, and it appeared as though Olympic Park felt the same that day. This is a game that otherwise would have been just another draw. Instead it was a match that I will never forget thanks to the concept of golden point.
While it has the ability to create games into instant classics, I understand the frustration and hatred for the concept. It pushes players for an extra ten minutes, it can become a field goal shoot out and it may even be boring, but we should take pride in the concept and change it for the better. The AFL currently does not have extra time. The A-League does not have extra time until the finals and the same applies to the Super Rugby.
This concept truly sets the code apart from any other, and it needs to stay. Instead of scrapping it, place a golden try rule into the equation. The first team to score four points, no matter how they get them, is the winner of the match.
Or why not instead of a desperate shoot out or first to four points match, golden point becomes extra time and 10 more minutes of football is played. Or better yet, have a drop off system in place. There are many ways we can better the concept before it is left on the scrap heap for good.
I urge you all to think before you cry out for it to be removed. Some of the code’s greatest games were played under these conditions. Last season, Darren Lockyer kicked the winning field goal to sink the Dragons’ season and advance to the preliminary finals; in 2010, Roosters’ centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall beat an exhausted Wests Tigers outfit to the try line and in 2009, the Storm and Warriors fought out a spectacular draw.
Why take away something that has given us a classic match to talk about nearly every year? Come on, rugby league. Just this once, don’t implode.
Joshua Wells
Roar Rookie
I disagree. People come up with the argument that if you can win by a field normally, you can win in GP with a field goal. Well if you lose by one in the last minute in regular time, you get nothing, but if you make it to 80:30 then you get a point. 30 extra seconds of bad football on your part could send you into the finals. It would be stupid. A draw should be avoided and the points need to be the same.
Steggz
Guest
In the game of rugby league, as well as union, AFL, soccer, water polo, hockey, etc, a draw is a legitimate result. You can have a game that has both teams come out equal. Of course, there are other games where it doesn't work the same.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
The ladder works fine as it is... that's why for and against is important. Not sure about this logic that a team that draws level after 80 minutes deserves something for it - I always thought it should be a team that WINS after however many minutes deserves something for it.... like competition points. Draws make sense in low scoring sports like soccer. In games like Rugby League they should be avoided as much as possible....
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Doesn't that mean the Dragons (much like the Roosters and Sharks) just need to practice their field goals? Surely if something was going to be removed from the game it would be something entirely useless like the scrum.... or Penrith....
League_coach101
Roar Pro
See how that goes at the Olympics next week....
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
First you say get rid of it, and then you tell us a great reason to keep it. Make up your mind!
peeeko
Roar Guru
Get rid of it. Dragons have won one from nine attempts at golden point
Steggz
Guest
Ridiculous. No recognition for forcing extra time? Surely a team who's level at 80 minutes (end of regulation time) should be given something for that!
Steggz
Guest
And here I was, thinking a draw was a result...
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
If it was a golden try/first to 4 points type situation, I think in extra time you would see less one up type footy trying to get field position for a field goal, and more lets spread it early and see if we can catch the defence napping and wrap it up straight away type footy.
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Also.... I like Golden Point. I like a result. Monday night was the exception - not the rule. That Tigers/ Roosters semi a few years back was brilliant... absolutely amazing footy. Would you have golden point in finals? How can finals be played under different rules to the rest of the comp? Maybe it needs to be looked at in terms of reffing and the way penalties can be awarded but it definitely needs to stay - regardless of how the coaches rant on...
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Fixed season scheduling Don't understand yet how this can work.... for instance fixed scheduling would have seen almost no Sharks games played on Friday nights this year... yet they're a champion team. How can you resolve this?
League_coach101
Roar Pro
Can I suggest too - Rugby League is not Soccer. We don't like or need draws in our game. Look at how ridiculous that drawn AFL GF a few years ago was... what an absolute fiasco....
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
How would it be unfair if extra time was five minutes each way ?
Joshua Wells
Roar Rookie
Because then teams would give up in GP. They need to be made to work for points and another 10 minutes is working. I don't like the draw because at the end of the day, a result is what everyone is after.
Joshua Wells
Roar Rookie
That might complicate things a little bit. I think leave it as is, 2 points for a win, none for a loss and 1 for a draw after 90 minutes.
turbodewd
Guest
In the scheme of things this is really not a big issue in rugby league. I dont know why this is getting so much air time of late. It has zero implications for the bottom line. We will not lose nor gain fans over it. If they scrapped it tomoro Id be slightly miffed but get over it. The ARLC must give us: Fixed season scheduling Dedicated weekend for Origin from 2014 - wednesday night has got to go for so many reasons Reduce the over-the-top incursion of gambling into the game Do something about the jersey problem (too many, change all the time, covered in ads, court jester designs) Combat the AFL I dont need to mention the NRL TV deal because theyre no doubt working on this at the moment.
Schuberto
Guest
I am happy for GP to be kept, however I also think that a side that is beaten in GP deserves some recognition. Maybe if a side got 4 points for a win in normal time, 3 points for a GP win, 1 point for a GP loss and 2 points for a draw. This would also work for Golden Try. This would be beneficial as some sides would finish the season with an odd number of competition points and result in fewer playoff spots being decided by for and against. Plus you get some reward for being level with a side after 80 minutes, which in my opinion is better than a loss. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Dayer
Guest
Oikee, I suppose every fool has an opinion like the coaches and also like you. Well, I am on the coaches side so that makes me a fool too, on the GP issue, I find it completely redundant. It destroys the fabric of an hard fought match that made two sides battle it out for 80 mins and both drawing the game thus both should be rewarded with a point each. Get rid of the GP ARLC. And to Josie93, I have thought about the GP since it was introduced and I still hate it. Ask yourself the Q?, WHY CAN NOT THE TEAMS BE AWARD A POINT AFTER 80 minutes of normal time trying to win the game but couldn't because of both sides ending up equal at the end.
Anakin
Guest
> I don’t think players generally do things they wouldn’t normally do Tell me again how many field goal attempts were taken in regulation time of that game last monday night?? > Let’s face it, the draw is boring. If it is truly deserved, it will be a draw at the conclusion of the 10 minutes. If its truly deserved??? They just played a whole match - of course its deserved! So suddenly if a team cannot be split after golden point extra time, then you'll say its boring because it was a draw; or suddenly its OK because only now it's deserved?! > Remember when Matty Bowen intercepted a Kimmorly pass to win the game in the 83rd minute, everyone loved that. I also remember when Mark Coyne scored in the final minute of the 1994 Origin .. and everyone (well, Qlders) loved that too. For over a century 80 minutes has been long enough to determine a winner in a Rugby League match; why do we need golden point now?