IT doesn't happen very often but when the Aussies get something hopelessly wrong it's always worth a gloat writes Chris Hall

The NRL season kicks-off Down Under this weekend with yet another revolutionary rule change forced upon its clubs.

From now on, there will be no drawn games. All league fixtures tied at the end of 80 minutes will be decided by the 'golden point' rule, where the first team to add to the scoreboard wins.

Protesters against the rule change complain referees will be terrified to blow for penalties in kickable positions and that whoever wins the coin toss and receives possession first will receive an unfair advantage.

But they are still missing the point. The question is why do we suddenly need to scrap draws anyway?

A share of the spoils is so rare in rugby league that, when one actually happens, it's really quite exciting.

And, unlike in football, you never see teams shutting up shop and playing for a 'bore draw' because a single point is of little use to anyone. How many times have you seen players actually celebrating a draw?

While I admit that Great Britain's drawn second Test against New Zealand last year set up an anti-climax to the series, drawn matches usually add spice to the rest of the competition. Wigan's 18-18 draw with London, which effectively handed the 1996 Super League title to St Helens, being the perfect example.

The Australians have been the pioneers of rugby league's modern era but, for once, they do appear to have dropped the ball.

Worryingly though, it probably won't be long before the NRL's lapdogs in Leeds follow the Aussies' lead once again and send the British game down the same route.