NRL grand final: Is the golden point decider fair?

RUGBY league can be a cruel game. Just ask Brisbane Broncos' Ben Hunt.

RUGBY league can be a cruel game.

Just ask Brisbane Broncos Ben Hunt.

After the golden point kick-off, Hunt knocked on and immediately dropped his head. He then began sobbing.

But that pain was nothing compared to that nflicted by Johnathan Thurston's 82nd-minute match-winning field goal moments later.

It was only moments earlier that North Queensland hearts were broken when Thurston hit the post with the sideline conversion attempt that would have given the Cowboys the game without going into extra time.

Thurston looked for Hunt after the final siren and embraced him.

"I told him to hold his head up high," the NRL great said.

"He's had an outstanding year. He had a week with us in Origin camp this year and he has a bright future ahead."

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has called for the reintroduction of NRL grand final replays to replace the golden point period.

The seven-time premiership-winning coach has long been an adversary of sudden-death overtime since it was ushered in for the 2003 season following a drawn State of Origin series in 2002.

"It's just unfair on everybody. I would've been happy to come back next week and play again," Bennett said after the game.

"I still don't see what's wrong with a draw. The season doesn't have to change anything. For 100 years we didn't have golden point and we still had a great game."

The Brisbane Broncos coach denied being bitter of the extra period, but said a different method was needed to decide the result given the grand occasion.

"You're talking about a grand final here. You're talking about everything on the line," he said.

Cowboys win the 2015 NRL grand final

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Victorious Cowboys coach Paul Green refused to join the debate.

"It's not worth talking about, we won the comp," he said.

APN sports writer Wayne Heming, a veteran of rugby league coverage, said he was no fan of the golden point system, even if Brisbane had won.

"Two teams giving everything for 80 minutes and it comes down to a lucky shot at field goal,'' he said.

But he added: "Well done Cowboys on your maiden premiership win and to both sides for the spirit and style they played the game."

What do you think? Should the golden point system be scrapped. Have your say below