Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has called for the reintroduction of NRL grand final replays to replace the golden point period.
His comments come after the Broncos went down harrowingly to North Queensland in extra time despite leading for almost the entire second half.
The seven-time premiership-winning coach has long been an adversary of sudden death overtime since it was ushered in for the 2003 season following a drawn State of Origin series in 2002.
Bennett re-iterated his stance against golden point, claiming the result is a lottery.
“It’s just unfair on everybody. I would’ve been happy to come back next week and play again,” Bennett said post-game.
“I still don’t see what’s wrong with a draw. The season doesn’t have to change anything. For 100 years we didn’t have golden point and we still had a great game.”
Having led for the final 46 minutes of the match, the mastercoach looked likely to snare his eighth premiership until Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt crossed on the fulltime siren.
North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston had a chance to steal the win with a sideline conversion, but his in-swinging attempt hit the crossbar.
Brisbane still had the chance to win in golden point, however halfback Ben Hunt grassed Feldt’s kickoff, gifting Thurston supreme field position for the match-winner four tackles later.
Not since Manly and Cronulla were brought back for a re-match in 1978 has rugby league enforced a replay.
St George and Parramatta were also recalled for a second grand final the following year.
Bennett denied being bitter of the extra period, but said a different method was needed to decide the result given the grand occasion.
“You’re talking about a grand final here. You’re talking about everything on the line,” he said.
“It’s not the way that, personally, I want it decided, as a coach or as a player.”
Victorious Cowboys coach Paul Green opted not to weigh into the debate.
“It’s not worth talking about, we won the comp,” he said.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
10 mins each way of extra time is my preference as this would even out any favorable conditions such as a strong breeze. No golden point or golden try. Then if the scores are still level, the team who finished higher on the ladder at the end of the regular season would take home the chocolates.
Lewl
Guest
Idiotic statement without any thought for the people whose interest pays for the product - the fans. How many traveling fans would have been happy to shell out another $1k+pp for next week? Golden try, or a set period of extra time before going into golden point (if necessary) would be better. It's a final, so tiebreaking rules are a necessity (wouldn't mind seeing a good old fashioned 'draw' come back in the regular season, though).
planko
Guest
It was kinda funny Parcell is a freak. But golden point needs to be looked at. I would prefer golden try ...
Broadly Speaking
Guest
1. Not many people from outside Sydney can afford to "come back next week"..... $2.000,00 per person for return airfares, accommodation. food, drinks. etc means 5 grand just for two people from Townsville with another 80 odd thousand seats to fill. This means Brisbane would have more opportunities to attend than North Queensland and they should have the larger crowd support. 2. There are lotteries in every game and kicks have been important parts of the game since forever: chips and chases, bombs, grubbers, goal kicks and even field goals (which were worth two points for ages if Bennett wants to go there). The Broncos had won the lottery of a coin toss and expected to be in control of the first two sets deep in Cowboys territory but they lost the lottery of a HUGE, long, hanging, swiftly shifting Feldt kickoff. 3. If Bennett believes his team deserved to be viewed as at least 'equal winners' then why did they try to shut down the game so early in the 2nd half??? Expecting any team to win by scoring only 2 points and defending a 4 point lead for most of the second half of the BIGGEST game of the year is delusional!!!! Would we have seen in extra time the Broncos play for a penalty (or a field goal) and/or kick for the sidelines for the next 20 minutes, or another 80 in a replay?!?!?!?!? I admit they nearly did it, but I reckon every other team in the NRL would have loved to be given a chance like that in a Grand Final, even against the defence the Broncos have shown this year. More respect should have been given because the Cowboys now know how to score more points than their opposition.......... (eventually)!!!!
Ask
Guest
I think the timing was always going to give it a touch of sour grapes, it didn't need to be said Sunday night again since it wasn't going to change the result. If he had have waited to raise it again few would have been able to give him stick for it as it is an opinion he has had for a decade
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
No problem with that.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Facts of life are that not everything goes according to plan. Hence my belief that the best team always wins.
pete bloor
Guest
That does seem to be the view of the "people". Lots of non NRL fan's were a bit puzzled that first FG decides the game even the NFL has tried to change it's system to be a little less "luck" driven. I think it's an easy fix, would be surprised if the NRL doesn't adopt it.
Big T
Guest
If he has been consistent in his stance, how could you conclude it had an element of sour grapes?
Big T
Guest
Id make it like a tennis match... you have extra time and need to get 4 points clear to win. There are 5 min intervals and you play as many required until one team gets 4 points clear - this is for finals games only... State of Origin has no extra time - if the teams cant get split after three games, then the series should be a draw. Regular season - draws apply... if you need to get a result, then Golden point for these games is fine.
Matthew Tomczyk
Roar Pro
The only shame in this years Grand Final was that it ended too quickly. I would have liked to have seen the full 10 minutes played out (in fact I could have watched that contest all night). The counter to the Wayne Bennett lottery comment is this: Grand Finals themselves are a lottery, and that's the price we pay to witness the spectacle. The Roosters have won 3 straight minor premierships but only won the comp once. Ending the comp after 26 rounds (English Premier League style) would be pretty fair. Instead we have a finals series and a GF where any team could have an off day or an injury. It's worth it for the general public though. My suggestion: extra time and then golden point.
SpongeBob
Guest
They really don't. Heck, some of my most beloved victories are where we didn't deserve to win but did. Example: guy rolled his ankle, fell and dropped the ball. Picked it up and ran the field for the win. Hilarious in a way, definitely undeserved winners though. Applies to a lot of things - not as if the person interviewed and gets the job is simply best for the role etc. Fact of life.
SpongeBob
Guest
Don't think so no!
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Ron Massey
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Like I said, Golden Try is a compromise solution. Is it ideal? I don't know though I do think it is the best compromise available.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How has the dominant team lost if the scores are tied at full time. If they were dominant they would have lead at full time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Was that reply to my comment?
Sharko
Guest
I was wondering if somebody could help me out. Who was the old fella sitting above and to the left of Bennett in the Bronco's box? I can't remember his name for the life of me, but I did catch that he was Bennett's old mentor?
Johnno
Guest
I don't see losing by a field goal as an insult. Field goals are a skill-set, and a well worked field-goal is a skill set in the NRL,deal with it Wayne. And if you move to golden try, it means the defensive patterns will be prepared by the predictable nature of knowing the attacking team will only have 1 way to score-points. So it will be able to set esiar, not be kept on it's toes. I love lots of kicking that's why i love rugby union, so many leagues don't enjoy lots of kicking,and kicking to decide games.
Rob
Guest
i hope the Nrl take note of the league community sentiment on this issue. Finals = 2 x 10 min extra time and if it's still tied up then take it to golden point. I hope Hunt keeps his head up because he and the current Broncos squad has the quality to get the job done imo. Everyone made mistakes that were costly during the game.