Burt's record masterclass hands Eels victory
Adrian Proszenko
Of all the 111 tries he has scored, none were more vital than the match-winner he nabbed at Parramatta Stadium last night.
Burt anointed as Parramatta great
Adrian Proszenko
April 3, 2011
Parramatta 22 North Queensland 20
Jarryd Hayne is tackled. Photo: Getty Images
PARRAMATTA skipper Nathan Hindmarsh believes Luke Burt deserves to be considered alongside the club's greatest players after snaring a win - and a long-standing record - in a thriller against North Queensland last night.
With his side staring down the barrel of a third straight loss, Burt scored his 111th try - eclipsing the mark set by Brett Kenny - to lock up the scores at Parramatta Stadium. Trailing by four points with as many minutes remaining, Burt picked up the scraps from a Jeff Robson bomb to produce a 20-all deadlock. The match was then decided on his boot, Burt slotting over a pressure conversion from the left-hand touchline as 11,226 fans watched history unfold.
Luke Burt of the Eels scores to take the club record.
Photo: Getty Images
''I think he's alongside the greats,'' Hindmarsh said when asked about Burt's standing in the club. ''Thirteen seasons at one club on the wing, he's now the greatest try-scoring record holder. He's obviously right up there.
He's a no-fuss type of bloke, he's not one for the media side of things, he keeps nice and quiet. The fans know how good he is and how vital he is for the team.''
The names of Sterling, Kenny, Price and O'Reilly are synonymous with the Blue and Golds. A humble Burt was embarrassed by the comparisons.
''I'm not sure if I'm in there yet,'' Burt said. ''The record books, [yes], but those blokes have all played for NSW and Australia, I'll never compare myself to those blokes. But I do feel privileged to be mentioned around that [standard of player] …
Ashley Graham of the Cowboys scores despite the defence of Luke Burt and Jarryd Hayne.
Photo: Getty Images
''It does feel great. It's a bit weird taking [the record] off such a legend like Brett Kenny, he's one of the all-time greats. I feel privileged to play for Parramatta for so long.''
The controversy surrounding the winning play only added to the occasion. Cowboys coach Neil Henry believed the video referees were too quick to rule in favour of the home side, believing Eels centre Joel Reddy may have produced an illegal aerial challenge on winger Ashley Graham in the contest for Robson's bomb.
''I thought Reddy leapt early, he was coming down and realised he couldn't make a play at the ball,'' Henry said.
''He dragged his arm against Ash Graham's arm and effectively took his catching arm away. You're not going to pull it in one-handed on your fingertips. There's nothing with it [in that] Reddy didn't touch it, the try was fair that way, but I think the contest in the air wasn't. That's my perspective.''
There were several big moments that decided the contest. Eels prop Carl Webb, making his debut for his new club against his old one, made some spirited tackles and charges after relieving Tim Mannah, who was engaged in a running battle with Webb.
Hopefully those hostilities will resume come Origin time. But there were no bigger turning points than the two try-saving tackles produced by Hindmarsh. He may have made more than 10,000 tackles in his career, but none was more important than the one he put on a runaway Glenn Hall to save what appeared a match-sealing try.
''[The effort] was typified tonight by the skipper, the fighting qualities of the group,'' Eels coach Stephen Kearney said. ''Led by the skipper tonight with those two try-saving efforts, if you want to call it that, that was the quality that was very evident tonight, a never give up attitude Nathan has.''
PARRAMATTA 22 (L Burt 2 R Morgan E Uaisele tries L Burt 3 goals) bt
NORTH QUEENSLAND 20 (K Fai Fai Loa 2 A Graham W Tonga tries J Thurston 2 goals) at Parramatta Stadium. Referee: Jared Maxwell, Phil Haines. Crowd: 11,226.
Link:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...inted-as-parramatta-great-20110402-1csmo.html
Oh and hi Softon Boy :nwave:
