The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league matches in the National Rugby League, Australasia's top competition in the sport. The term is borrowed from the golden goal system formerly employed in association football. The golden point is used to determine a winner when scores are level at the end of regular time. Prior to its introduction into the National Rugby League competition at the beginning of the 2003 season, 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, five minutes are played, the teams swap ends with no break, and a further five minutes are 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.
As of 7 March 2026, 177 golden point games have been played, with 19 remaining a draw after the ten minutes of golden point extra-time. Daly Cherry-Evans has scored the winning points on seven occasions, more than anyone in the NRL, with Johnathan Thurston, Valentine Holmes, Jamayne Isaako, Shaun Johnson, and Nathan Cleary all behind him on four. The Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers have played the most golden point games with 28 each, including twice against each other, while the Dolphins have played the least with five since entering the competition in 2023. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are the most successful team under the format, having won 13 of their 17 golden point matches (including a draw), whilst the Wests Tigers are the worst, having lost 15 of their 21 matches. The St. George Illawarra Dragons were the final club to win their first golden point match, after five previous failed attempts. The New Zealand Warriors have all featured in the most drawn matches with five.
The two teams that have met each other the most times in golden point games are the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys, with a total of five match-ups. Four of the games were played in Townsville while only one was played in Penrith. The results are evenly spread, each team winning two games and their most recent game resulting in a draw.
The first golden point game in a grand final occurred in 2015, between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys, which was won 17âÂÂ16 by the Cowboys after a Johnathan Thurston field goal sealed the win and a first premiership title for the Cowboys.
Following the 2015 NRL Grand Final the rules for tied NRL finals matches reverted to two five minute periods of extra-time, followed by golden point extra time if required.
The first golden point game in a NRL Women's Premiership match occurred during the fifth season of the competition in 2022, with Rachael Pearson of the St. George Illawarra Dragons scoring a field goal to defeat the Brisbane Broncos 19âÂÂ18.
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