FORMER Socceroo Mark Bosnich has "seen some engines" during his days at Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa but the keeper-turned-football pundit rated raw Jets teenage wingback Lucas Mauragis "right up there".
Unleashed for just his second start in the A-League, Maraugis tore up and down the left touchline in an all-action effort to help inspire the Jets to an upset 2-0 win over Central Coast in Gosford on Tuesday night.
Cramp ended his contribution two minutes into stoppage time, but not before the 19-year-old had scored a decisive goal.
His 33rd-minute strike epitomised the flyer's game.
Mauragis picked the pocket of Matt Simon near half way. He won the ball a second time and then made a lung-busting late run into the box to collect an Angus Thurgate through-ball and slotted home.
The fleet-footed teenager, who at age 13 moved from Merimbula to Canberra to pursue a football career, covered 12.3 kilometres at an intense clip of 129 metres per minute.
"He likes running," coach Craig Deans understated. "He set his own goal up really - winning the ball in midfield and then running off it. He follows instructions, he sticks to a task ... he loves the challenge of trying to be a [professional] footballer."
Mauragis' five-star performance just shaded that of fellow teenager Archie Goodwin.
Making his run-on debut, the 16-year-old set up the Jets' opener. He controlled a long ball from Jordan O'Doherty and showed poise to draw a defender and play Roy O'Donovan into space.
"As the academy director [previously] I have seen him develop over the last three years," Deans said. "He just has a mindset that he is going to be the best footballer on the pitch. No matter which pitch we put him on, he still thinks he can be the best player on the pitch. The decision [to play him] has just been about making sure his body is ready for it.
"I don't have a question mark over his self belief. That is one of the positives with him.
"He has shown time and time again at training - same with Lucas and Blake Archbold - that they are desperate to be a footballer. They work to the right standards. They still have lots to learn still, but at 16 and 19 there is always lots to learn."
The win was the Jets' first in 15 games and moved them to 17 points, a point behind second-last placed Melbourne Victory, who have played one more game.
The Jets meet Perth Glory at home on Saturday before completing the season against Melbourne City, at a date and venue to be finalised.
"Hopefully we get some self belief back," Deans said. "We talk about it every week. We are close in every game and it is little moments that are catching us out. Trying to break that habit of not winning has been our problem.
"Hopefully the last two games there is real belief in what we are doing and we can get some more points. We are not going to get carried away and think we have solved all our problems. We still have a lot of work to do."
