Golden point
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The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn matches in the National Rugby League. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.
The golden point is used to ensure a winner (where applicable, see below) when scores are level at the end of regular time. Previous to its introduction, normal season games were left as draws; in finals matches, 20 minutes extra time ensued (10 minutes each way), with a replay in the event of a draw.
If the scores are level at the end of 80 minutes, 5 minutes is played, the teams swap ends with no break, and a further 5 minutes is played. Any score (try, penalty goal, or field goal) in this 10 minute period secures a win for the scoring team, and the game ends at that point. If the scoring event is a try, no conversion is attempted. If no further scoring occurs, the game is drawn and each team receives one competition point.
However, during the finals series, where a winner must be found on the day, play continues in the second period of extra time until either team scores.
The golden point has also been adopted in State of Origin games; indeed, it was the catalyst for the golden point being implemented, as 1-all draws in 1999 and again in 2002, left no clear winner of the series. It had been used previously in Super League's Tri-Series in 1997.
Golden point is also applied to the Tri-Nations final. In the 2006 series, Australia and New Zealand were locked 12-12 at fulltime. Darren Lockyer scored a try in the 87th minute to win the title for Australia.
