THERE was no disguising Tim Mortimer’s happiness as he described winning yesterday’s NSW Cup grand final as “bloody fantastic”.

The former Orange junior was Wentworthville’s fullback as the Magpies downed Newtown 12-8 in an amazing grand final.

The game went for a record-equalling 104 minutes after the two sides were tied at 8-all after regulation time and extra-time.

The match went into golden point extra-time with both sides missing multiple field goal attempts.

Eventually Magpies five-eighth Mark O’Grady put on the grubber for winger Iwi Hauraki to score the match-winner for the Parramatta feeder club.

Mortimer, the son of Canterbury great Peter Mortimer, said he wasn’t keeping an eye on the clock but knew they had been out there for a long time.

“We couldn’t think of that while we were out there,” Mortimer said.

“We just wanted to win it so bad. We knew it would be tough. Newtown have been our biggest competition this year.”

A total of 13 field goals were missed during the game and Mortimer said he was nearly ready to have a go in an attempt to bring the long game to a close.

“I was there but I think eventually we realised the try was the best option and we managed to pull it off,” he said.

“We’re on the biggest high at the moment.”

Orange had another connection to the grand final winners in halfback James Maloney, who played with SJS as a junior.

Maloney and and Mortimer were team-mates for four years when they first started in the game.

“I played with James from under 6s through to under 9s with SJS,” Mortimer explained.

“We were good mates as kids. Now we’ve been reunited this year, so it’s been great catching up.”

The marathon game equalled the longest-ever rugby league match, a Super League Tri-Series game between NSW and Queensland in 1997.

The Jets were leading 8-4 at half-time but Wentworthville levelled the score and eventually went on to win.

Mortimer celebrated with a lap of honour at ANZ Stadium where he met up with his parents, Peter and Julie.

Peter Mortimer is no stranger to grand finals having played 190 first grade games for Canterbury between 1977 and 1987.

The winger was a member of the premiership-winning teams in 1980, 1984 and 1985 and played in Canterbury’s grand final losses in 1979 and 1986.

Tim said he hasn’t re-signed for the 2009 season but is likely to stay at Wentworthville where it is hoped he will be joined by older brother James, who played with Manly this season.

“I left James at Manly to come to Wenty this year and it has paid off,” Tim smiled.