Eels cherish golden field goal

UNSIGNED and with a baby on the way, Parramatta halfback Marcus Perenara put forward his case for a 2007 NRL contract with a man-of-the-match performance in the Eels' thrilling 20-19 extra-time victory over Newtown in the Premier League grand final.

Perenara scored two tries and kicked the winning field goal eight minutes into golden point extra time today to seal victory for the Eels in a re-match of the famous 1981 NSWRL grand final.

With Tommy Raudonikis, who captained the Jets in that 20-11 loss to Parramatta in 1981, watching from the sidelines and former Eels great Brett Kenny – who earlier coached Penrith to victory in the Jersey Flegg grand final – also at the ground, both sides squandered opportunities to claim the match in sudden death before Perenara calmly potted the winning shot – his second field goal of the day – from 20 metres.

"The other guys were very tired," Perenara said.

"We said at half-time we would have to work for it and we did that, we worked for it.

"I feel sorry for the Jets, but at the end of the day we won."

Perenara, who was also a key member of the Eels 2005 Premier League premiership, is unsigned for next season. His partner is also expecting their first child during the off season.
The 20-year-old looked to have sealed victory for the minor premier after kicking a 30m field goal in the 74th minute.

But the Jets – the feeder team of NRL club Sydney Roosters – forced the game into extra time when five-eighth Josh Lewis booted a 30m field goal with less than two minutes remaining.
Lewis missed two relatively easy shots in extra time, while Perenara also had an earlier chance charged down.

Just five points were scored by each side in the second half and extra time after Newtown had claimed an 18-16 lead at the break.

Eels winger John Williams pulled off a superb try-saving tackle on Jets flyer Troy Malcolm late in the second half to keep his side in the contest.

AAP