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Golden point: It’s time for the NRL to try harder

Max Stannard new author
Roar Rookie
21st February, 2019
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Max Stannard new author
Roar Rookie
21st February, 2019
43

Footy is just around the corner and I’m sure the NRL can’t wait for the opening kick-off so the media focus ever so slightly shifts from footy players to the rugby they play.

Well, here is one rule the NRL should have fixed a long time ago. Golden point.

I never thought I would say it, but maybe we could learn a thing or two from the Yankees. I watched my first game of NFL between the Patriots and the Chiefs in the semi-finals last month and when the final siren sounded at 31-all, the game headed into extra time. It was a cracker.

The amount of advertising in NFL is way over the top – including ads between ten-minute video ref decisions – we’ve certainly got enough of it with Harvey Norman replays and the like. What got me intrigued though was their extra time rules.

A simple field goal isn’t enough to win you the game, but if you score a touchdown then it is all over.

There’s no golden point, only golden touchdowns. If no touchdowns are scored but a team is leading on points at the end of extra time – through field goals – then they are the winners. If both teams are tied still, then the game ends in a draw.

Golden point in the NRL is a farce. As soon as a game goes to extra time, everyone is 99% certain that the game will end in a drop goal – and depending on who is playing a comic drop-kicking display also. Death by dropkicks.

On the other hand, I prefer seeing skill win games of football. A golden try rule would surely make for a more interesting and exciting finish for spectators.

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Teams can either go all-out attack and try to go for the outright win or play more conservative – score a field goal or two – and try and lead by the end of extra time. One criticism of the golden try is it will probably lead to more draws.

But if two teams cannot be split after 90 minutes of rugby league, is that really such a bad thing?

The NRL need all the non-negative news they can get, and the golden try might just give them the touchdown supporters’ respect.

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