Golden Try for NRL finals matches.

By BRAD WALTERA try may be needed to decide finals matches in extra time if the NRL adopts an NFL rule in which the game continues for another set after a field goal to give the other team a chance to win or level the scores.The NFL's overtime policy is one of a number of alternatives to golden point that were considered by the NRL competition committee last Friday and are on the agenda for Monday's meeting of head coaches.The issue of how to decide a drawn match was discussed by the competition committee after criticism from Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett and others that this year's epic grand final should not have been decided by a field goal in extra time, but it was agreed that golden point should remain in place for regular season games.The try by Cowboys centre Kyle Feldt in the dying seconds of last year's NRL grand final that led to extra time.Photo: Cameron SpencerHowever, there was debate about finals matches, with the committee looking at the model used in the NFL, which ensures both teams are given the opportunity to have the ball at least once in extra time unless the team that receives the kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession.The competition committee also discussed the National Hockey League model, in which the number of players on the ice is reduced from five per team to three per team during extra time.NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said those options would be canvassed again at Monday's meeting but stressed that no recommendation would be made at this stage."The competition committee were very strong on golden point staying as it is for the regular season, so we are only talking about looking at it potentially for the finals and the grand final," Greenberg said."We gave the competition committee a whole heap of information about golden point, we sort of benchmarked ourselves compared to lots of other sports both here and abroad and it was good for us to analyse what other sports do."We looked at what the NFL do, and it would be like one of our teams catching the ball from the kickoff in golden point and kicking a field goal in that first set. The other team would get their right of reply but if the team scored a try off the first set the game would be over."There won't be any recommendation to the commission about golden point at this stage but it's good to see that we are exploring all the other options."Another key item on the agenda is the shot clock to be introduced next season, and the length of time teams will have to form a scrum or take a goal line dropout.A recommendation will be sent to the ARL Commission next month, which is expected to be 30 seconds for dropouts and 35 seconds for scrums.The shot clock, which is being introduced in tandem with the reduction in the number of interchanges from 10 to eight to increase fatigue, was trialled in the round 26 Parramatta-Canberra match and Greenberg said the coaches would also discuss how to prevent time wasting by players."There will be a rule which will go to the commission in December for approval and we will take the coaches through it tomorrow to get their views on it," Greenberg said."The competition committee spent two hours on Friday pressure testing all of the information we gave them from the trials at the end of the season. We have got all the analysis we have done so there will be a fair bit of talk about that and the rules where players try to rort it and what we will do in return."Also to be discussed will be ways to make the match review and judiciary system simpler, but fines for grade one offences are unlikely as the RLPA believes it would penalise players on minimum wages more than big-name stars.The coaches will also receive a detailed analysis on the performance of NRL referees this season, including statistical data.

Replies

rappetite94 November 29, 2015 at 9:20pm

Play it out for an extra 20 mins in finals, have 3 more interchange, if scores are still level after 20 mins of extra time, next point wins.
Daz Sul November 29, 2015 at 9:21pm

keep taking of a player every 5 mins of xtra time until a try is scored. That would work.
GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman November 29, 2015 at 9:26pm

Play until there is a try scored, finals only.
It's funny this is being considered now that Wayne has whinged.
- rappetite94 > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman November 29, 2015 at 9:32pm
  
  Wayne bennett has whinge for years about this lol
- Tin Tim > GRUNTA - Death of a Salesman November 30, 2015 at 9:20am
  
  Best answer this one.
Frank The Tank November 29, 2015 at 9:37pm

Yeah good idea.

I`m all for deciding the big games with a golden try. At least it rewards the best attacking sides or fittest teams as apposed to rewarding the teams who take it one out for a shot at field goal.
Alan Hunt November 29, 2015 at 9:59pm

Good idea IMO, nothing worse then watching a drop goal shoot out. It's not Sokka or Yawnion.
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" November 29, 2015 at 10:41pm

The coaches will also receive a detailed analysis on the performance of NRL referees this season, including statistical data.

Yeah - sure.

A Fookwit is a Fookwit is a useless encumbrance to the game.

Golden point in any form SUX!!!!!!!!!

For finals ONLY then first try wins - normal season a draw is a DRAW.
Goldbeard November 29, 2015 at 11:32pm

I like the reduced plays option. Say 4 tackles then the other side get a go. Field goal could still decide it, but teams would have to do more than just bash it up for field position. In regular season I would give both teams 1 point for a draw then play "golden point" for an extra point. So it really is a golden point.
the Eggman November 29, 2015 at 11:53pm

Penalty shoot out .