Golden Point A Thorn In Bennetts
Side

Broncos and Maroons coach Wayne Bennett may want to rethink his objective stance on the golden point rule after watching tonight?s thriller between the Bulldogs and Roosters at Telstra Stadium.

73 minutes into the game the scores were locked at 26 all and everyone, including me, thought we were in for our first game to be decided by the golden point but it was not to be. The Bulldogs capitalized on a Roosters error to clinch victory with under two minutes remaining with Matt Utai crossing in the corner after beating no less than four defenders.

It was the play leading up to the try that should have Bennett in two minds. On the final tackle, Braith Anasta was positioned directly in front of the posts, 25 metres out but Brent Sherwin threw the ball wide to Utai who barged across and beat Todd Byrne, Anthony Minichello and Brett Finch to score the match winner.

Bennett?s stance on the golden point was shared by the QRL and when pressed for an explanation on the stance, Bennett said the golden point rule would promote negative football in the dying stages of the match. Well Wayne, nothing could be further from the truth. Tonight?s grandstand finish saw nothing but positive play from the Bulldogs who were determined to seal the victory in regular time with a try. There were no slow play the balls, no deliberate go slow tactics and time wasting, just sheer urgency from a side who desperately wanted to win the football match.

You may be the coaching messiah north of the border, but not everything you say should be taken as gospel.