Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has called for the NRL to introduce a golden try rule following his side’s extra-time loss to Manly.
The Storm were beaten at home on Saturday in golden point for the second time this season when Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry Evans slotted an 89th minute field goal for a 11-10 victory.
It was only Melbourne’s third loss of the season and the premiers still look set to finish on top of the ladder, where they sit two wins clear with six games left.
Bellamy suggested a golden try rule would provide more entertainment for the fans, but also said he’d be happy to settle for a draw.
“I just think, do we need to take it to golden try?” Bellamy told NRL360 on Monday night.
“Both teams now just basically look to go straight to the middle of the field and get in a good field position to kick a field goal.
“I think when it first came in it was all about excitement and we’d see tired bodies out there.
“At the end of the day, I’m a bit old school and I think there’s nothing wrong with a draw but having said that if we’d won on Saturday night I probably wouldn’t be saying the same thing.
“But if we’re going to hold onto it perhaps golden try would add a little bit more excitement.”
soapit
Roar Guru
Because it's sudden death I suppose
Soda
Roar Rookie
Poor Ben Hunt. But why is it one rule for the finals and another for regular season?
Farkurnell
Guest
Not gunna happen .thats too logical for the NRL.We only change the rules to make it harder for Refs so we can satisfy our passion to bag the hell out of of them.
Farkurnell
Guest
Agreed DP, use to play drop off in Touch Footy Finals - worked a treat and you always got a result.Also add a bit of spice for the fans to see which players the coach would bench.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Just brought in a year too late… edit: just to clarify, it’s 5min of extra time each way and then golden point if there’s still no result.
Farkurnell
Guest
Much prefer watching golden try and Ref blunders than having to listen to Fatty n Gus dribble on ,filling in time.
Bruce Vartan
Guest
Gee, this is akin to what Bennett has been saying from the start, especially what's wrong with a draw. Look what a draw has done to this year's ladder, makes it more cut throat having 2 teams with the extra 1 point. Understand the need during finals, but regular season games it isn't needed. The game is an 80 minute game, not 'plus' till we get a 'winner'.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Good, didn't know that
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
If you're happy with a drop off, play nines format 5/10 minutes each way (I think 5 is too short, but they'll all be stuffed by then do it might be fine), with a restart of the interchange numbers - ie. back to 8 for the 20mins.. I guarantee you the refs won't be as pressured to put their whistle away so infringements will be penalised, there will be lots of open play, tries and excitement AND an extremely high likelihood of a winner.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Extra time has been used in finals instead of golden point since 2016
dayer
Guest
Greg, it will work because if teams as you say give away penalties you can still kick a penalty goal and win when time is up.. a field goal and penalty goal wont win the game while the time is ticking but when its the end of the game and you are ahead by a point or two then you win.. so teams wont be giving a penalty freely like you say...
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Golden point is great , knowing that the game is over as soon as a point is scored is very dramatic. Even better would be golden try with player drop off. If players want to give away penalties they can go to the bin.
Soda
Roar Rookie
I agree dp, go back to 80 minutes for the regular season. Draw is fair result. However in finals where a result is needed I would prefer 5 minutes extra time each way rather than a golden point. Golden point becomes a bit to much of a lawless field goal shoot out.
soapit
Roar Guru
golden three is the sweet spot. doesnt go on forever, 1 try wins it but you can also win by a penalty goal and a field goal.
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Comment should read, 'I find nothing wrong with a draw.'
Nat
Roar Guru
As much as I loathe betting agency advertising, moreso the level of outcomes you can bet on as it will/has lead to rorting. However, as these agencies have a 'drawn match' outcome, they could easily cover this gap in promoting the 'drawn' outcome and reaping the profits. The FTA reality thing is painful. I reckon the theory is, if it goes late and you miss the start of a competing show and less likely to switch but they jam 100 ads in the last 20mins to ensure this.
Greg
Guest
Won't work. If teams know they can only lose by getting a try scored against them the'll just keep infringing the rules to prevent it happening. The refs swallow their whistles in extra time so there's no way a player is going to get sent to the bin. I'd rather get rid of the 'Golden' and just play extra time in 5 minute blocks until we get a winner, it would be a rare occasion that the scores are still locked after an extra 15 mins.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Nope illogical and I disagree. Golden try just makes it go from one predictable situation to another ie: From non-stop field goal attempts,now to only predictable try attempts - Imagine how many penalties teams will give away to avoid the opposition from scoring that golden try.Along with pressure on refs and complaints when they don't give penalties. Better idea: Either go back to a draw for regular season games or if this obsession with a winner continues: Play a full 5 minutes each way (10 minutes in total of extra time.) and then whoever leads at the end of that wins.If tied after that,than a draw.This way is unpredictable,with possibility of tries,penalty goals,and field goals being attempted during this time.NOT just one or the other.
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Golden try sounds fair enough as anything other than golden point would be better to reach a winner. Having said that I find nothing with a draw. If neither team is good enough to win after 80 mins then a draw it is. This would be for regular comp games of course with extra 10 min lots to determine winners in finals. There is no simple solution that would please everybody.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Storm have lost to Roosters & Manly by field goals in extra time this year. I can recall Bennett having the same sentiment after the 2015 GF.