I’ve always been against golden point in rugby league – two teams who each deserve one point for their efforts, battling it out in the lottery of a field-goal shoot-out.
Wayne Bennett’s comments in the post-grand final press conference were nothing new. Bennett has been critical of golden point since its inception in the 2003 NRL season.
Although the finale of last Sunday’s grand final was intense, dramatic, emotional and action-packed, Johnathan Thurston’s conversion going through would’ve provided the better conclusion.
The extra-time field goal gave me the feeling of both joy for the Cowboys on their maiden title, but it also somewhat killed my buzz.
I’m in favour of 20 minutes of extra-time, with 10 minutes each way, and both teams able to score points throughout extra-time.
The 1989 NSWRL grand final between Canberra and Balmain featured this format, after the scores were locked at 14-14, with Canberra winning 19-14 after extra-time.
The 1989 decider is still considered one of the best of all-time.
If the scores are looked after 80 minutes in the home-and-away season, simply leave the game as a draw; that was how it was done from 1908 to 2002.
In finals, the 20 minutes of extra-time would come into play.
If the scores are still level after 20 minutes of extra-time, we can’t have a replay; we can’t expect players to turn up three days later in a already crowded schedule.
I’d love to see the format used in rugby – a penalty shoot-out, where five players take kicks at goal from the centre of the 22-metre line, going to sudden death if the scores are tied after the five shots.
Think kicking right in front, from 20 or 30 out, is easy? Think again! The pressure the players are under makes the format even more interesting.
It’s a format where Thurston, James Maloney, Jamie Soward or Jarrod Croker would be put to the test against the likes of Sam Thaiday, Paul Gallen, James Graham or George Rose.
Expected sharp-shooters may crack under pressure, while the big forwards who can’t kick for grapes could star.
That’s my resolution to golden point and extra-time.
G
Guest
Agree with everything whole-heartedly, except rather than the shootout I'd go Golden Point if teams can't be split after an extra 20. 1 point each for a draw is by far the fairest way to do it through the regular season.
Dayer
Guest
golden point is stupid get rid of it...
Dayer
Guest
Well written Doc.
Dayer
Guest
no no Matt D get rid of this STUPID golden Point and play ten each way. How stupid is this stupid golden point. I like what Dogs O W written ..first to four sounds great it gives you 2 options really, 1. score a try and win, 2. kick two penalty goals and win or 4 field goals and win. if silly teams want to give penalties away in their 10 to 30 metre zone then they will potentially give away two points. I think this concept will work. it wasn't an excuse but a statement made by WB, but i must admit the timing was completely wrong, he should have wait until after the GF week. go the Broncos 2016 (mark my word) we will win the GF.
Dayer
Guest
sin bin them and they will lose and will be blamed for the loss... simple as ABC...
Dayer
Guest
so what use the sin bin and they wont do it again .... simply is it not. the players will be warned before the game.
Mat D
Guest
Thanks hammer, as I said to chadley, great minds think alike. Appreciate your support of my comments regarding this topic. We can all look forward to another great season in 2016. Hope the so called "Super Coaches" can take defeat as well as they take the enormous salary they receive. :-)
Jimmmy
Guest
I have been to three games which involved golden point including the Cowboys GF. They were the best games of footy I have been involved with. Golden point is a great innovation. Fair .?. Of course it's fair. Ben Hunt dropped the ball , that's a Brons error. No error and the Broncs run it out and get a long kick in. The thing about Golden point is that the team that makes the first error often loses. Why is it unfair that the other treat then wins. An error can lose a game at any stage. A replay is stupid. Long periods of extra time are going to to result in some serious I player injuries . Just leaving games as draw results in a feeling of complete anti climax. . Leave draws to Soccer. Golden point is the best of all options for a tied score.. The only improvement I would make is to referee the onside more strictly. If a penalty decides the game do be it.
The Doctor
Guest
Get rid of golden point in the regular season for starters. A draw is a fair result. Split the points and move on to the next game. In finals where you need to find a winner go to the traditional 20 mins extra time with golden try ending the game. Teams can still kick field goals and penalties if they want to be in front after extra time. Scoring a try will be the ultimate aim however. We would see far more excitement than what we currently have i.e 2 teams sucking it up the middle trying to set up a pot shot at field goal and defenses cheating like no tomorrow to stop them, knowing refs won't blow penalties.
hammer
Guest
Well said Mat D. Youve nailed it :)
hammer
Guest
Each team had a possession in golden point - the result was fair. Its just unlucky that Ben Hunt dropped it. Golden point is fine.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
This article was in jest, surely. Chadly said it best. Let it go. There is no alternative that is as good as golden point. And for the record, I am fine with golden point. I can't understand why Bennett keeps slagging it off. Though to be fair, he both tried to and avoid having an affect on the conversation. His press conference was a tricky one. The media jumped on it. He both wanted this outcry to come and not I reckon. I am a bronco's supporter.
Mat D
Guest
Chadly, thank you. Great minds think alike. AlanKC is obviously a Broncos supporter who can't believe they were beaten. That was last week now we move on. Hopefully 2016 will be just as good.
chadly
Guest
all these ideas of changing the rules of the game are STUPID - the golden point has stood the test of time in home and away games with little comment , but now the comment by the losing coach has stirred the possum - let it go ,- the result is in accordance with the rules and will not change , despite some quaint suggestions.
Ian
Guest
I'd go with a variation on that. 10 mins each way but ends when one team gets 3 points ahead - game can't be decided by a single FG or penalty goal. Try is an instant win but you can also win if you can get multiple FG's and/or penalty goals.
Alexander Clough
Roar Pro
I think that set time periods would work but I suggested the golden aspect for now purely so it can be worked in easier. 4 points is too much though. Most draws are low-scoring already so it could take a while before that elusive try, especially with tiring sides, and as others have mentioned, encourages slow plays of the ball. Also, what happens if a team is only two ahead at the end, do they then play another twenty minutes?
AlanKC
Guest
Bennett has been against the concept of golden point from day one - he still is and I reckon if the broncs had won he'd have said the same thing. If there is one thing he is not it, would be a poor sport - all in all your comment is BS.
AlanKC
Guest
I agree with the set extra time periods Up but hollow feeling from the win? No way - it's been a long time coming and it's a beautiful feeling.
AlanKC
Guest
Wasn't Golden Point introduced after the drawn SOO series that allowed Queensland to retain the shield? And now it's no good... Regardless, there should be 5 minutes each way first and then if the score is still equal I'm happy for GP to be the decider.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
You're close bro' but there's still a tiny problem. It isn't fair. The only fair compromise is to have set periods of extra time . But you need to win by a four point margin. Why? I'm glad you asked. Because in the current system it's a case of playing five sets to get downtown and have a pot shot at a field goal.If your go-to guy is on song you win. If he scrapes the paint the opposition get the ball and barge it upfield for five sets and hopefully get into range for their go. Very haphazard. We need to embrace two things. A set time period. And an incentive for free flowing footy which a set time period enables. Sure you could kick four field goals and you'd win. Or. You could score one try in the first minute and try to hold out for another nineteen minutes. Up to you. But what needs to be encouraged is getting back to playing free fast footy. I wouldn't go so far as to say last Sundays grand final victory by the toyota north Queensland Cowboys was a hollow feeling. But the experience would have been better if we had have won fair and square. I don't believe it will require massive change for us to get there either. Just little tweeks will work. We're close already.