Overtime is Golden, That's the Point!
Any people who question whether the Super League should adopt the ‘Golden Point’ rule could have been influenced by events had they been at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
The humble surroundings which are the home of NRL’s Manly
Sea Eagles witnessed the hosts claw back an 18 point deficit in the final
thirteen minutes of the game, only to have potential victory snatched from
their grasp by a former teammate.
On a night when former St Helens centre Jamie Lyon kicked
his way past his own personal milestone of 1000 career points, it was
Canterbury’s Trent Hodkinson who had the final say after the game had been tied
at 30-all.
The circumstances in which the half back kicked a penalty
for two points on the scoreboard, and two points more on the overall ladder,
summed up the pulsating and brutal nature of the ten minute period, which has
been present in NRL for eleven seasons.
Did the Bulldogs deserve to win? After all, they had
squandered a lead built by Ben Barba’s double and a try apiece by Josh Morris,
Frank Pritchard and Josh Reynolds.
Did the Sea Eagles deserve to lose? After scores from Jorge
Taufua and Justin Horo, they fought back valiantly with a Daly Cherry-Evans
double and Steve Matai’s 79th minute leveller.
WHO CARES?!
Both sides know the rules once they enter the green
rectangle, and both know that they may have to go for up to ninety minutes if
they want to collect just one hard earned NRL point (if the scores are level
after the 10 minute golden point period, it is declared a draw).
In the end, it was the ill-discipline of first Glenn Stewart
and then Kieran Foran which ultimately cost the hosts.
Stewart’s interference at the play the ball left the
referees with no option but to award a penalty, before Foran outdid him in the
idiocy stakes by questioning the decision and thus it was moved to within
kicking range for 30-32.
The tangible contrast of reactions from the sets of
supporters only added to the drama. Bulldogs: elated, Sea Eagles: dejected.
Once a sceptic of what appears an Americanised notion that a
winner must be found, TSH may have been swayed by witnessing live the Sea
Eagles’ second stalemate in four games.
The rugby league public pay good money for 80 minutes of
hard hitting entertainment; the prices are justified when up to ten minutes of
pure, no mistakes allowed ‘footy’ are occasionally found.
With Super League well and truly in a structural transition,
a slight tweak to the rules – even for a trial period – must be worth consideration
instead of a lukewarm draw.
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