Ndaira top Dog after field goal steers Kurri into final
BY NEIL GOFFET
31/08/2009 12:00:00 AM
KURRI Kurri supporters were calling for George Ndaira to be awarded life membership after his golden-point field goal yesterday kept their Newcastle Rugby League premiership hopes alive.
Drafted to Kurri from the Knights' player placement program, Ndaira was the hero of the Bulldogs' 17-16 minor semi-final victory over Central Charlestown at St John Oval.
The hard-working hooker broke the deadlock less than two minutes into extra time when he slotted the field goal from 15 metres out despite towering Central prop Courtney Rolff touching the ball.
In the past Rolff's touch would have negated the field goal, but Ndaira was hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates as their vocal supporters called for him to be made a life member.
"I don't know about that," laughed Ndaira.
"It's just good to be part of a club like Kurri because they're a good bunch of boys.
"Everyone here has been real welcoming and it's just a good club to be a part of."
Any doubts about Ndaira's commitment to the Coalfields club were dismissed when he converted the first of Sam Parker's two tries from the sideline and raised his arm in salute to the Bulldogs fans.
Central hit back when halfback Chad Solman scooted over from 20m out before some brilliance from left centre Luke Mercer put the Bulldogs back in front 10-6.
Ndaira started the movement with a chip kick that Mercer gathered. As he was heading towards the sideline, Mercer flicked it behind him with his left arm and Parker caught it and dived over.
Livewire Butcher Boys fullback Byron Warren scored three minutes before half-time to give his side a 12-10 lead at the break, but Ndaira was involved again early in the second half.
Lock Reegan Tanner got a quick play-the-ball away near the Central line and Ndaira sent a sweetly timed pass to rampaging prop Mick Campton who dived over under the posts.
Ndaira had a chance to extend Kurri's lead to 18-12 half an hour before the end but missed an easy penalty attempt.
Central five-eighth Scott Briggs had a tougher chance from the sideline after right winger Ty Mundine crashed over to level the scores at 16-16 in the 74th minute.
Briggs's shot hit the left upright, and Warren missed with a hurried attempt at field goal in the 78th minute.
Kurri got the first chance in extra-time and Daniel Abraham looked set to take the shot, but it eventually fell to Ndaira.
"I wasn't going to hit it but then Abes [Abraham] took the run so I just set up for it," Ndaira said.
"I felt confident and I wanted the ball because I wanted to make up for missing that penalty goal and get the win for the boys."
Central coach Wayne Richards said it was his team's best performance since the start of the season.
"It's the best we've played for a long time and it was a great game of footy," he said. "We had enough chances to win it but we blew them with silly decisions and dropped ball."
The NRL has not yet decided where Saturday's final between Wyong and Kurri will played.
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