Luke Burt believes extra-time losers deserve to get one competition point.
As Phil Gould called for the abolishment of the "antiquated" allocation of only two points in each NRL game, Burt, the man who put the nail in Newcastle's coffin on Friday night with his 84th-minute field goal, yesterday stopped celebrating just long enough to admit the losers of golden-point thrillers were justified in feeling robbed.
"Golden point - I love it because we won, but I wouldn't be loving it if we'd lost," he said. "If they came up with that, with both teams getting a point for a draw then having extra time for the other point, I wouldn't be whingeing about it. I don't think too many other people would be.
"If I was the Knights, I'd be shattered. I was in the first ever golden-pointer at Brookvale Oval [in 2003]. We got done and I still remember how bad that felt. You feel like you may as well have lost by 50. They're only great if you win."
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has been vehemently against golden point since it was introduced in 2003 and stepped up his calls for the NRL to act. NRL coaches lobbied for "golden try" to be established last season to reduce the luck factor associated with field goals, but the governing body rejected it.
"What's wrong with getting a point each?" Bennett said. "What's wrong with a draw? Just end it after 80 minutes.
"I've been on both ends of it, where we've won in extra time and where we've lost. I'd still rather walk away with a point, knowing that you can take something away from the game instead of absolutely nothing after you've played your heart out.
"It's just come down to a field-goal situation anyway. Nobody even attempts to score a try. The team that loses doesn't deserve to walk away with nothing. It's too flukey. The toss can dictate the result of it - I'm just no fan of any of it.
"Golden try wouldn't necessarily make me a fan of extra time, but it would have to be better."
Gould said it was wrong for the Broncos, who thumped North Queensland 36-2, to receive no greater reward for their dominant victory than narrow winners like the Eels. He wants five points to be up for grabs every game.
"The 2-1-0 allocation of points is antiquated and not truly reflective of a team's performance on a given day," Gould said.
"The Knights battle for 85 minutes and entertain the crowd only to lose by a point and get nothing for it. They get the same as the team that gives up and gets lapped by 50."
"I think the game should look at a 5-4-3-2-1 allocation depending on the winning or losing margin.
