Rugby League: NRL introduces golden point system

SYDNEY - The NRL yesterday endorsed the introduction of a golden point system for this season.

Despite opposition from the Queensland Rugby League and Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett, the NRL approved 10 minutes of extra time if a match is drawn after 80 minutes.

If no one scores after extra time, each team will be awarded one competition point.

Teams will be allowed two more interchanges during extra time.

"The feedback from the game's leading players, in particular, has been extremely positive," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

"While there has been some debate since its unanimous endorsement at the annual conference, the idea has generated plenty of enthusiasm and we believe it will bring even more excitement to the game."

Bennett said the decision would put referees at risk of being "lynched."

"I think they've made a rod for their backs," he said. "'What will happen during that extra time period is that players will be offside all the time. You already see it when draws are in the making.

"Markers aren't set properly, guys race up out of the defensive line.

"You name a referee that will be game enough to blow the whistle and give a penalty?

"If it's [against] the home team, there will definitely be a lynching."

Bennett, whose Queensland side retained last season's Origin title with a draw in the series decider, questioned why there needed to be a rule change after 100 years of drawn matches.

"Maybe there's a place for it in the third game at State of Origin level, but not in club football," the five-time premiership-winning coach said.

"I've been involved in some [draws] which I've thought were magnificent, and been in others where I've been disappointed to finish up with a draw.

"But I've never left a ground feeling I've been cheated or disillusioned that my team came away with a draw.

"What concerns me most is the strain on the players. We don't have unlimited replacements, we go with four each weekend.

"They're going to put a time limit on it which is sensible, but you can still have a draw.

"So what changes? You play an extra 10 or 15 minutes of football and you still get the result you had 10 or 15 minutes before."

The NRL also confirmed that it would issue fines to four clubs who had breached the A$3.25 million ($3.5 million) salary cap.

Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters have all been fined after a 2002 audit, with the offences related to pre-existing contracts rather than any new attempts to breach the cap.

The Roosters have been hit the hardest, with a fine of $150,000 for breaches over the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Chief executive Bernie Gurr insisted the fine would in no way tarnish the club's premiership win.

He said he would consult the club's lawyers before determining whether to contest the fine, which relates to payments to star halfback Craig Wing over the past two seasons.

* The Kiwis may play a second test against the Kangaroos in October.

But the ARL is unlikely to budge on the first test date, July 25.

New Zealand wanted the July 25 date moved to later in the season, but the ARL has ignored the call.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Selwyn Pearson on Tuesday sought an October test against the world champions and appeared to have his wish granted almost instantly.

Pearson said he heard yesterday that the ARL was considering a test against the Kiwis, probably in Auckland, in October before they headed to Great Britain for an Ashes series.

He expects to discuss this second test when the code's International Federation meets in Sydney on Monday. But there appears to be no prospect of moving the July test to the end of the NRL season.

- NZPA