“Mate, you couldn't write it. I dreamt about doing things like that,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com after the match.

“I thought about it [the game] all week. I was getting goosebumps, getting nervous – I was almost vomiting before the game and at half-time.

“My first goal and it has come at the right time. It means the whole thing to me. My first grand final at professional level and first grand final Newcastle has played in so it couldn't be better.”

And Elrich says playing two grueling 120 minute matches in the last two weeks will give the Jets the edge in next week's grand final.

“I think playing 120 minutes twice in a row I think that can get us over the line. We've played 240 minutes in the last two weeks so it's a good thing I think.

“One hundred and twenty minutes is not easy. Great credit to the boys – our fitness trainers have done great. They knew last week was a tough one so they laid off us a bit this week and made it more enjoyable and I think we repaid them tonight.”

Elrich, who had a stellar match at right back keeping wing wizard Michael Zullo quiet as well as scoring a stunning third goal, said the presence of his brother – Wellington Phoenix star Ahmad Elrich - may have helped him.

“He [Ahmad] couldn't be prouder," added Tarek. "He said he had a feeling I'd do it. To be honest, every game he's watched me play I've scored – except against New Zealand. Maybe we should get him down to the grand final...

Tarek added: “It was like a horse race. You take off and in the last 100 metres you're a mile in front and then they start catching you and then you get away from them.”