Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has again hit out at the golden point extra time rule, declaring he would have preferred to replay the grand final next weekend.
Bennett, a long-time critic of extra time, watched on as Johnathan Thurston slotted the field goal that sank his team's premiership hopes. While Bennett was full of praise for North Queensland's efforts, he urged the NRL to reconsider its position on the way matches are decided if they are even after 80 minutes.
"I've never been a fan of golden point," Bennett said. "[It changed because] we had a drawn game in a State of Origin. It's a lottery. It's unfair on everybody. [It was] most unfair here tonight. I'm happy to come back next week and play. I don't see what's wrong with the draw. The game lived for 100 years [with draws]. I would be happy to come back next week. You're talking about a grand final, everything on the line. It's not the way I want it decided.
"I'm not bitter. We had a wonderful grand final. It takes two teams to do that. The glory goes to the winners, I'm happy with that."
Before leaving the press conference, Bennett wanted to emphasise his praise of the Cowboys. Bennett said both teams gave their "everything".
"Bottom line is it was an outstanding game of football," he said.
"The game is designed for you to lose. We got beaten by a field goal. Do we feel beaten? No we don't. It's not about winning or losing all the time. They've been brave all season. The Cowboys weren't better than us. The end result at full-time was 16-all. It was decided in golden point."
Bennett would not reveal what he said to halfback Ben Hunt when the veteran mentor picked up his shattered playmaker from the ANZ Stadium turf at full-time.
Hunt dropped the ball from the kick-off of golden point extra time to allow Thurston the chance to steal the show.
Brisbane skipper Justin Hodges said there was no need to rally around Hunt.
"It's not Ben's fault," Hodges said. "Benny Hunt thought he cost us the game. Without Benny Hunt we wouldn't have been here today."
Thurston's successful field goal also caused Hodges' career to end on a losing note. Hodges said his teammates were the "best blokes" he had played.
"We didn't get the result," Hodges said. "My dream was to get back here. We did get back here. Sometimes in a game you need a bit of luck. They got a bit of luck in the last play. We beat ourselves. I couldn't be prouder."
