The viability of the City-Country fixture has been questioned, but Penrith NRL coach Ivan Cleary says it helped inspire one of the most miraculous tries of the season against Newcastle on Sunday.
In the company of some of the NRL’s elite in Dubbo last week, Panthers fullback Matt Moylan was arguably the best player on the park.
And the 22-year-old ace bottled all that enthusiasm and inspired Penrith to a crucial 32-10 victory at Hunter Stadium which could put their season on track.
In the 20th minute, Panthers halfback Peter Wallace put through a grubber that looked way too heavy.
Newcastle fullback Darius Boyd relaxed, but blond-haired dynamo Moylan chased like his life depended on it, leaping high into the air from inside the in-goal area and batting the ball back.
Replays showed Moylan had accidentally landed his foot on a fallen Boyd’s back which fortuitously prevented him from being out of bounds when he touched the ball.
It was a freakish moment.
Knights centre Joey Leilua picked up the ball but threw a reckless pass in his in-goal and Dave Simmons pounced on the spoils to make it 10-4 for the visitors.
Penrith never looked back.
Moylan had no right to get to the ball, but the extra effort inspired his teammates.
With his team searching for their first away win of the season, Cleary said Moylan had come back from his experience in the City camp with a spring in his step.
“He’s definitely come back from that weekend last week with an increased confidence,” he said.
Five-eighth Jamie Soward said the moment was pivotal.
“That’s a big play. It changes the game,” he said.
“The momentum was in our favour after that.”
Moylan said he just didn’t want to see the play die.
“Once the ball bounced high enough I knew I could have a crack at it,” he said.
“I just jumped and tried to keep my feet up.
“After last week I want to try and play some more rep footy and I just have to play consistent for the club here.”