The Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels have played out an 18-18 draw in professional rugby’s historic first golden-point extra-time finish.

A last-minute try to Reds replacement Alex Mafi, followed by James O’Connor’s coolly slotted conversion after the siren, forced the Super Rugby AU contest into overtime on Friday night.

Fittingly, Sydney’s Brookvale Oval, Manly’s NRL base, was the setting for the very rugby league-like scoreline after Victoria’s second wave of coronavirus forced Melbourne’s “home” match to be played interstate.