NRL clarify 'unique' golden point rule that left Phil Gould fuming in Cowboys-Eels thriller
The NRL has confirmed the finish to the Cowboys-Eels match, in which Parramatta were allowed to take a penalty kick after Mitchell Moses had slotted the winning field goal in golden point, was "100 per cent correct".
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was penalised and put on report for contact with Moses' legs as the Eels halfback put boot to ball.
The kick was good, and gave the Eels what many thought to be a 31-30 win. But a quirk in the rules meant the Eels were then awarded a penalty in front of the sticks, which Ronald Volkman calmly slotted, leading to the somewhat bizarre 33-30 scoreline.
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Scott Drinkwater was penalised for contact on Mitchell Moses during an attempted drop goal. Nine
The decision led to confusion both in the commentary box and on the field, with just about everyone involved under the impression the game was finished.
Except for referee Liam Kennedy.
The laws of the game stipulate the attacking team be awarded a penalty when a player is fouled in the action of attempting a drop goal, regardless of the outcome of the kick.
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That this incident happened in golden point appears to have uncovered a loophole of sorts.
In Nine's coverage on Friday night, Phil Gould said Drinkwater should still have been put on report, but the fulltime whistle should have been blown with the penalty kick not taken.
"If you score a penalty try in golden point, you don't kick the conversion. If you score a try in golden point, you don't kick the conversion. Game over," Gould said.
"If Mitchell Moses missed the field goal, then that'd be a penalty and that would have won them the game.
"I don't see any reason whatsoever why they made them kick the penalty goal. The game's over. That's what it is: golden point. Done."
Speaking on Nine's Weekend Today on Saturday, Nine commentator Peter Psaltis - who was in the box for the match - said the NRL had clarified the right procedure had been followed, but conceded a rule change might be forthcoming.
"I've had clarification on this from the NRL today that in the international laws of the game they got it 100 per cent right," he explained.
"It is a mandatory kick at goal from right in front, which was what was awarded it despite the kick going through … it's a unique set of circumstances."
Psaltis said should the kick have hit the post and bounced back into play, the Cowboys would not have been able to potentially pick it up, run the length and score because the ball would have been instantly declared dead.
"I think they're going to change the interpretations on this one eventually … it's crystal clear," Psaltis said with tongue in cheek.
On Saturday morning, Drinkwater was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge, but only fined $1000.
