https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/go...in-nrl-extra-time-revamp-20190904-p52nvn.html
Golden point could be axed in NRL extra-time revamp
Golden point could be abandoned by the start of the next NRL season or the scoring system in extra time radically revised as administrators come to terms with games being effectively decided by a toss of a coin while the code is driving parity through strictly enforced salary caps, football department spending limits and shared stadiums.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley has revealed golden point has been under serious discussion at League Central recently and it will be reviewed by the competition committee in November.
Two results in round 24 have caused concern with long-term league watchers. The Eels were defeated in extra time last Friday night without touching the ball. The Broncos kicked a field goal at the end of the first set of six tackles, meaning the game ended without the Eels having any opportunity to score.
Two days later, in Paul Gallen’s final match at PointsBet Stadium, the Raiders kicked a one pointer in extra time.
Gallen plays again on Sunday when the Sharks hope to defeat Wests Tigers and progress to the semi-finals. Furthermore, his team did have the opportunity to score first against the Raiders, having received the ball from the kick-off. Seven sets were played before the Raiders won in extra time but increasingly at the end of tightly contested games and the finish of a long, gruelling season, golden point is a case of lottery luck, disrespecting the 80 minutes which have preceded it.
Annesley said: "The NRL has actually given this some thought recently and will further discuss golden point variations with the competition committee when it meets early in November. Over the years, there have been a number of alternatives floated, such as golden try, minimum time periods and even scrapping it all together. None of these have generated much traction, however, I do think both teams should get at least one possession each before a match is decided."
Champion Data has trawled though the records back to 2014 to determine how many sets were played in extra time before a match was won.
In those six seasons, there have been 50 golden point games, with five won in the opening set, at an average time of one minute, hardly sufficient to restart a game. Ten games have been decided in two sets; nine in three sets; six in four, with only three drawn at the end of extra time.
Annesley introduced golden point after a study trip to the United States when he was NRL chief operating officer before becoming NSW Minister for Sport and then chief executive of Gold Coast Titans.
However, the NRL golden point system is not the same as the ones practised by the NFL or in American college football.
Last year’s Tom Brock Scholar for rugby league research, young American Spencer Kassimir, has recommended the NRL adopt a variation of the American models. Kassimir studied at the University of Southern California and Harvard Business School and learned to love league via late night television.
Annesley said: "I do think the NCAA [college football] model is quite a good option as it ensured both teams get at least one possession before the match is decided". The NCAA model is more equitable than the NFL system which allows a team to score a touchdown on its opening drive and win. However, if it kicks a field goal, the opponent can tie the NFL match with a field goal and the game continues until one team scores again.
Kassimir, whose love of league extends to him refereeing games in Melbourne, said: "The NRL can learn a lot from both the NFL and NCAA overtime rules but it is crucial to understand that the NCAA games never end in a tie, whereas the NFL still can."
Kassimir shares the view of many long-term league figures, who are not opposed to draws, believing the odd-numbered premiership points on the ladder are a superior means to deciding the top eight, rather than points differential.
"I am OK with a draw but if the goal is to ensure there are none, we need a blend of the two American systems," he said.
"I am not OK with golden point as it trivialises the 80 minutes of play into a random coin toss due to the 10-metre retreat of tired players to the defensive line making a charge down so difficult. NFL, NCAA and rugby union have no retreat and Canadian football has a one-yard retreat."
Born in the USA ... how the NRL could take cue from American football
Kassimir explained how a hybrid American system would work to make a result in the NRL in extra time more equitable.
"The ball would be placed 20 metres from the try line, with possession going to the team which won the coin toss at the beginning of the match, or having a second coin toss to determine who receives first use of the ball," he said.
"The team in possession will be given one set of six tackles to score. If that team scores a try, they will be given the opportunity to convert it. The opponent would then be given the ball and re-start play 20 metres from their try line. The same scoring options would apply.
"The team with the second possession would be given the opportunity to tie, or win the game, or not score at all. If the game is tied by the second team scoring the same number of points, the process would be repeated two more times.
"At this point, the NRL needs to decide how desperately they want to not have a drawn game. If they feel, ‘enough is enough’, which should be the case – given player safety – then follow the NFL lead in this respect and accept a tied game."
