Kicking on: Dureau finding his feet quickly to boot Knights within sight of finals
BY BRETT KEEBLE
KNIGHTS halfback Scott Dureau completed a unique double when he kicked the winning field goal in Newcastle's 17-16 victory over Melbourne last Saturday night.
He did the same against Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium this year, making him the only player in the NRL to pot a decisive one-pointer against both 2007 grand finalists.
The 22-year-old's long-range strike gave the Knights a 17-10 lead in the 65th minute against the Storm, and it proved the difference after Melbourne bench forward Sika Manu crossed for a late try to pull the premiers within a point.
Dureau's fancy footwork was also responsible for Newcastle's nail-biting 13-12 extra-time victory over Manly at EAS on Easter Saturday.
"I hadn't thought about that," Dureau said yesterday when told of his phenomenal feat. "Both were at home in front of good crowds, and I've just been the one lucky enough to kick the one-pointer the boys have done all the hard work."
Dureau's astute kicking game was an integral factor in the stunning win over the Storm. Winger James McManus spilled his pinpoint cross-field attacking kick in the opening minutes, his ambitious chip-and-chase forced Melbourne fullback Billy Slater to concede a penalty goal just before half-time, and his raking 40-20 kick his fourth this season kept the pressure on the champs midway through the second half.
Dureau could have been excused for going missing after Greg Inglis intercepted his pass and returned it for an 80-metre try midway through the first half, taking the edge off Newcastle's fast start and getting the Storm back into the game at 8-6.
But the diminutive dynamo responded with what former Knights halfback Andrew Johns, who mentors Dureau and the Newcastle halves at skills sessions every few weeks, described as his best game in the NRL.
"I was pretty rattled at the time when I threw it. As we got back to halfway I just sort of said to myself, 'I've got to get this out of my head otherwise I'm going to go back into my shell, and if I do that, we could be in some trouble,' " Dureau said.
"In the back of my mind I was thinking this could be the kick-start they need, but thankfully, with a lot of help from the boys, we just stuck to it and didn't let them get into their rhythm."
Dureau finished last season behind Luke Walsh in the halfback pecking order and has spent some time watching Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen wear No.7 this year.
But he has surpassed his own expectations, adding 17 games this season to his NRL debut last year, and his halves pairing with close friend and former schoolmate Mullen has helped the Knights win five of their past six games to be on the verge of securing a finals berth.
"I'm up to 18 games now, so I've exceeded where I thought I'd be and where I wanted to be this year. I thought maybe 10 or 12 games, that was my goal at the start of the year, so to play 18 and be starting halfback again going into a crucial game like this against the Broncos, I'm over the moon with that," he said.
"We know that if we lose and things don't go our way in other games, we could be out, so we're not just going up to put in a good showing, we're going up there to win."
Deregistered former Canberra halfback Todd Carney (five) leads the NRL in 40-20 kicks, but Dureau and South Sydney's Chris Sandow lead active players with four each.
Dureau and Mullen have combined for seven, making Newcastle easily the most productive pairing for 40-20s.
"Scotty still kept firing shots at them and didn't go into his shell," coach Brian Smith said. "He's the architect of all of our attack, as any halfback is, so for him to keep that sort of ambition and discipline to stick with the plan, that was probably the thing I really enjoyed most of his game the other night.
"He's won two games for us with field goals this year and he's right up there with the leaders in 40-20 kicks."
"He's a smart player and he's got a real good feel for the game.
"He's got a nice skill set and a real footy intelligence about him, he's got a real likable personality, and I'm already looking forward to what he's going to be like in 2009 and 2010."
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