A Luke Burt field goal in the fourth minute of extra-time has enabled the Parramatta Eels to escape with a heart-stopping 24-23 golden point victory over the previously undefeated Newcastle Knights at Parramatta Stadium.
The Eels enjoyed a 20-12 half-time lead before the plucky Knights hit the front 22-20 courtesy of tries to backs Wes Naiqama in the 57th minute and Keith Lulia in the 62nd.
Burt put the Eels back on even terms with a 68th minute penalty goal before Newcastle, fresh from nail-biting golden point win last week against Manly, jumped ahead 23-22 thanks to a 74th minute Jarrod Mullen snap. But the unlikely figure of Nathan Cayless produced a left-footer out of nowhere three minutes from the end of regulation time to help the Eels level the scores yet again.
Handling errors from Knights' pairing Richard Fa'aoso and Lulia gave the Eels valuable field position in the early part of extra-time allowing Burt to pot an easy one-pointer from a scrum to send the 15,176 pro-Parramatta crowd into a frenzy as their side claimed a memorable victory.
The win gives Eels coach Michael Hagan one back on Knights counterpart Brian Smith after Smith's Newcastle team grabbed a shock 34-10 win in the corresponding game last year - the first meeting between the clubs since the two coaches controversially swapped jobs.
It didn't take long for the Eels to click into gear with star centre Jarryd Hayne crossing for two tries in a three minute period to give his side a handy 10-0 lead.
Eels pivot Brett Finch played a vital role in both four-pointers, producing a lucky grubber for the pacey centre to collect on the run in the sixth minute before sending Hayne over in the left corner with a deft cut-out ball three minutes later.
The Knights stormed back into the contest in the 12th minute when Eels back Eric Grothe inexplicably charged off his wing, allowing Lulia to burst onto a well-directed Scott Dureau pass for a try in the left corner.
Kurt Gidley's sideline conversion saw the Knights trail 6-10.
Newcastle again targeted Grothe's wing with success on the half hour when care-free winger Cooper Vuna was generously greeted with open spaces to place the ball down just inside the dead-ball line.
Gidley's second wide-range conversion gave the Knights a shock 12-10 lead.
Grothe redeemed himself somewhat 33 minutes in when a ball-spread to the right saw Joel Reddy put the big winger one-on-one with Gidley - a contest he was never going to lose.
The Eels finished the opening half in stunning fashion courtesy of lock Feleti Mateo who made a break 60m out to send Finch racing away under the posts.
Burt's second conversion of the evening handed the Eels a 20-12 lead at the break.
The Knights were back within range in the 57th minute when a pin-point Mullen corner kick was fumbled by rookie Eels winger Taulima Tautai for Naiqama to claim the spoils in the form of a converted try.
Newcastle hit the front 22-20 in the 62nd minute when Lulia bagged his second following some impressive lead-up work from Gidley and rangy interchange forward Corey Paterson down the left edge.
A 68th minute Burt penalty goal leveled the scores at 22-all before both sides traded field goals to take the game into an extra-time bout, ultimately won by the home side.
Parramatta Eels 24
Tries: Hayne 2, Grothe, Finch
Conversions: Burt 2
Penalty goals: Burt
Field goals: Cayless, Burt
Newcastle Knights 23
Tries: Lulia 2, Vuna, Naiqama
Conversions: Gidley 3
Field goals: Mullen
Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - Feleti Mateo (Eels)
2 - Brett Finch (Eels)
1 - Danny Buderus (Knights)