It was enough to convince even the biggest sceptic of golden point’s value.
Well, sort of.
Wayne Bennett said he was still not a fan of golden point despite Brisbane’s thrilling 21-20 extra-time win over North Queensland in the NRL grand final rematch on Friday night.
But Bennett did relent somewhat, saying golden point was fine to determine regular season matches – just not finals.
“I’m still not a fan,” Bennett said.
“I can cop it for a club match if that’s what we have to put up with.
“But not when you get to the playoffs.
“Golden point isn’t a way to determine the grand final.”
Brisbane extracted a semblance of revenge for last year’s heartbreaking golden point NRL grand final loss to the Cowboys when Anthony Milford’s 85th minute field goal sealed the extra-time win.
While relieved after the victory at a sold out Suncorp Stadium, Bennett said the NRL were yet to come up with the perfect formula to decide close games.
“Whether you play an extra 10 or 15 minutes or whatever and everyone has an equal opportunity to score like they did in the 1989 final when Canberra won the grand final,” he said.
“It is still a great moment of the game when Steve Jackson scored in extra time.”
Bennett was comfortable with locked up finals being decided by a designated extra-time period, just as long as the sudden death golden point aspect was eradicated.
“At least you have 15 minutes or whatever to score that try and not be under the pressure that one (field goal) kick and it’s game over,” Bennett said.
“Teams deserve better opportunities than just golden point.”
Cowboys coach Paul Green did not agree that golden point should be used in the regular season but not the playoffs.
“The issue I have with that is that you can’t play a season under one set of rules and play a finals series under another,” Green said.
Bennett made his golden point stance clear after Brisbane lost the 2015 grand final in extra-time after Johnathan Thurston’s match-winning field goal.
And Green cheekily admitted he had wondered if Bennett had changed his stance on Friday night.
“I was wondering what Wayne’s opinion of golden point was after tonight,” Green laughed.
“I like the fact that there is a result.
“I am disappointed the result didn’t go our way but you win some and lose some.”
