We don't want to leave, say our grand final heroes

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

By James Gardiner

MARK Bridge scored the goal which delivered a championship to the Newcastle Jets.
Andrew Durante did the job at the other end, helping tame Mariners danger men John Aloisi and Sasho Petrovski in a performance that earned him the prestigious Joe Marston Medal.

Now it is up to club owner Con Constantine to ensure they stay in Newcastle.

Bridge and Durante have received lucrative offers to join Sydney FC and Wellington respectively.

Both are desperate to stay in Newcastle but say the ball is in Constantine's court.

"I wanted to stay before tonight," a delighted Bridge said.

"It is a great team, a great bunch of blokes. Why would I want to leave."

Durante also expressed his desire to stay in Newcastle.

"You have to try and keep as many players as you can in a winning side," Durante said.

"Con has said he does not want it to be a revolving door.

"But it also makes it hard when he does not want to use service agreements.

"We are in a winning side, so obviously other clubs are going to start picking off individual players.

"I have a big decision to make next week. I told the club I would make a decision after the grand final.

"Hopefully tonight will sway Con's thinking more than my thinking."

On last night's performance, the club should do whatever it takes to ensure both stay in Jets colours.

Bridge's strike was straight from the top shelf.

"When you score in a big game you always feel good," he said.

"Scoring in a grand final the feeling is times ten."

Bridge's strike sent the Newcastle fans into raptures a far cry from the boos he received early in the season when speculation surfaced that he was heading to Sydney.

"There is still the odd person that has booed," Bridge said.

"I take it as a compliment, it shows they want me to stay."

The Marston Medal capped an amazing three years for Durante, which has seen him come back from a career-threatening broken leg suffered in a crude tackle against the Mariners in their first meeting to become a Socceroo train-on squad member, championship winner and medal recipient.

"This is the most unbelievable night of my life," he said.

"I have been chasing a grand final for so long. To get one and get the Joe Marston Medal on top of that is incredible.

"I know if I do leave [Newcastle] I have left my heart here.

"I actually questioned whether I could come back after the second broken leg because I knew what was ahead of me.

"It is a lonely road back to first-grade football.

"Looking back, it has all been worthwhile."

Durante believed van Egmond's decision to switch from a back four to a back three was the key to victory.

"Tactically, Dutchy was brilliant," Durante said.

"The last few times we have played them Sasho [Petrovski] and John [Aloisi] were able to get ball to feet. That is when they are most dangerous.

"We stopped that by me playing behind the defence and Adam [Griffiths] and Jade [North] playing in front. We stopped the supply of balls to feet. That's where we won it."

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