The most experienced and successful coach in premiership history is once again calling for the end of golden-point extra time in the NRL.
Wayne Bennett, a long-time opponent of golden point, called for the league to outlaw the novelty concept at the end of the season after his Newcastle Knights featured in a heartstopping 18-all draw with Brisbane on Friday night.
The Knights battled back from 18-10 down with eight minutes remaining only for stop-gap goalkicker Craig Gower to fluff two late conversion attempts in regulation time before skipper Jarrod Mullen also missed four shots at field goal during 10 frenetic minutes of golden-point play.
"A couple of them went to the right there, but that's golden point. It's frantic," Mullen said.
"You're all thinking field goal and not thinking tries."
Newcastle's draw had the Knights clinging to eighth spot on the ladder, but Bennett said the two teams should have shared the points after 80 minutes rather than having to put their bodies through a torrid period of extra time.
"One of the points about golden point is, as Jarrod said, everyone is thinking field goal," the said 673-game coaching stalwart.
"It is just a totally different football game to what you see for 80 minutes.
"At the end of the night, we both walked away with one point each and the fans have got to go home with one point each and we all get on with life.
"And for the life of me, I can't see why the game didn't stop at 80 minutes. I hope in the future we get to that point."
Bennett was otherwise satisfied with the result, although the Knights are facing the prospect of slipping out of the top eight if the resurgent Warriors beat Cronulla in Auckland on Saturday.
"As far as I'm concerned, in the position that we're in, it's as good as a win," Bennett said.
"I've got no mixed emotions about that."
The draw left Brisbane languishing in 12th spot and almost certainly needing to win their remaining five games to sneak into the finals.
But with four of those games to be played in Brisbane, the Broncos are upbeat about their playoff chances.
"I think that's a bit of money in the bank there. We're going home now. I am looking forward to getting back on Suncorp Stadium and playing some good footy. We're coming," said skipper Sam Thaiday.
"We're not doing too many sums at the moment."
In a boost for the Broncos, former Test prop Ben Hannant made a strong return from a long absence with ankle and calf injuries.
The Knights could lose key forward Beau Scott after he bravely struggled on for most of the match with a foot injury that will likely require a stint on the sidelines.
