I never believed there would come a day where more rugby league would be a bad thing.
Unfortunately, this unthinkable position has now been reached and it’s all thanks to Golden Point extra time.
As it deforms the game’s fundamentals and disbars rationality completely from the grid these days, the once-exciting scent of Golden Point has decayed to humid cheese.
Naturally, whenever this fortuitous feast of additional footy presents itself, we fans are starting to think we no longer want seconds.
Originally introduced to eradicate draws and create more losers, Golden Point enjoyed such early popularity it once caused Wayne Bennett to fist pump. Not bad when you consider the only other time this happened was when Darius Boyd was born.
But alas, those heady days are long gone, all but a fading dot in a rear-view mirror crowded with errant markers and skewed field-goal attempts.
Golden Point’s utter failure has not only disenfranchised the fans, it has proven – unfathomably – even the NRL administration can sometimes get it wrong.
With its morphed tactics and derision of rule, the concept no longer passes the rugby league sniff test. This is because it is not rugby league.
No, Golden Point is some bastard derivative from a modified fostering, much like your ginger half-brother from mum’s second marriage.
Watching games play out in extra time, you sense rugby league exists in there somewhere. Sure, there’s something mildly familiar about it all, but in the end, you’re not convinced. It’s like shopping for meat at Aldi.
If you take away the excitement and the emotion, there hasn’t been a decent period of Golden Point for yonks. If you take away the Melbourne Storm, there hasn’t been one properly executed for yonks either.
In saying that, it’s great if one-out runs and paranoid officialdom is your thing.
In the concept’s defence, some fans value it’s ability to enhance a poor viewing spectacle. However, I’d wager these are the people who still watch television in standard definition, so I wouldn’t listen to them.
Plus there’s those who enjoy the fact that it reduces draws. They cite our habitual consumerism, and claim unless we are expanding the game in to Tasmania, we should avoid outcomes that feel like ‘kissing your sister.’
What these people don’t understand is this; sea levels have risen since the advent of Golden Point, NAPLAN results suffer every time we take a game in to extra-time, and worst of all, the Census went belly-up following a streak of sudden death matches involving the Warriors.
Coincidence? Don’t kid yourself.
Yes, Golden Point not only makes kids stupider and footy writers untruthful, it mutilates rugby league as we know and love.
This is a territorial game of shape that relies on on its framework of laws, and unfortunately, these extra periods of play comply with nothing but federal sweepstake regulations.
Golden Point’s habits are ingrained and cannot be reversed. That’s why it’s already dead.
It is nothing more than an opportunity for referees to be paid overtime for doing nothing.
So let’s hope the NRL calls in the priest and lowers the casket.
Maroon Blood
Guest
Absolutely! It's the easist and best solution. Golden try wins it instantly, penalty or field goal just adds to the score and your team wins it IF they are still ahead at the end of extra time. Too simple??
Dan
Guest
How about need 3 points to win in gp, try, pen +fg or 2 x penalty or 3 x fg This way it makes it a contest and gives some incentive to follow rules and refs courage to all PEN. Right now its pot luck. Teams can still kick fgs if thwy want but will have to be ultra efficient
Farqueue
Guest
Easy fixed ..make it golden try...kick a field goal , that's fine but the game doesn't end. Give the other team a chance to reply, also the refs wouldn't be scared to blow a penalty...it's so obvious that Greenberg would never think of it.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Too true John. They maybe oddball and of weird appearance, but they can usually run like Brett Dallas so they certainly aren't all bad.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Much appreciated fellas! I must admit, the regular love of Max keeps me inspired.
MAX
Guest
He makes words dance. Pity he is not a gun Rugby League coach. I can think of a few teams who need one.
AGO74
Guest
awarded a penalty in the 71st minute? A spear tackle would likely not get penalised in the last 10 minutes.....
John
Guest
Hey fair go on the redhead half brothers Dane.... they're not all that bad!
Christov
Guest
NHL - 2 points for a win and 1 point if the game goes into OT.
Tim Gore
Expert
Dane Eldridge: best writer on the Roar.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
I like Golden Point and PK is right. Just get the refs to ref golden point and all is fixed and you Golden Point-haters can find something else to focus your irrational arguments on.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
It's Golden Point that's lacking in substance, Marshall. I equate Golden Point to 20-20 cricket. A lot of action and it can occasionally be fun in a haphazard way, but at the end of the day it has very little substance.
Rilo
Guest
Do you have any actual butcher shops where you live? Our just Aldi and woolies?
Maroon Blood
Guest
Nice :)
steveng
Roar Rookie
'Golden Point' has to be scrapped its been a failure. No other sport has a 'Golden Point' result to an ordinary season game and most NRL fans don't want it, 1 point for a draw is the fairest and the most awarding result if the score is a draw!
Albo
Guest
I don't particularly care either way if we retain or scrap Golden Point. My only beef is with the on field officials ignoring the rules during that Golden Point period of the match. And I agree with Paul Kent that if we don't have Golden Point , the same ignoring of the rules will shift to the last ten minutes of normal time. Its up to the referees to enforce the rules for the entirety of the match, and if this is done properly, the rules will eventually be observed by all teams or else they suffer losses, whether in Golden Point or at the end of normal time.
Boz
Guest
Possibly, but at least if a team is awarded a penalty or scores at the 71st minute of regular time - the other team still has time to reply. The biggest issue with golden point is 'golden point' - hence the refs reluctance to blow any penalties.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
That's because I have a no substance policy
Marshall
Guest
What did I just read...you tried really hard to fill that article up with cool humorous analogies...ultimately pretty light on substance. Every game gets dramatically different in extra time.
Marshall
Guest
Except the Meat at Aldi is often higher quality than what the average produce at Coles or Woolworths is. But hey 'Fresh Food People' and all they, enjoy being brainwashed. DOWN DOWN DOWN. NO ADDED HORMONES