



Penrith skipper Matt Moylan, has hosed down suggestions he will be making the move to five-eighth any time in the near future.

The response from Moylan comes amid speculation that the Penrith fullback wanted to take on the five-eighth role given the perceived failings of Te Maire Martin and Nathan Cleary as a halves pairing after just seven games together.

While Martin remains not only on the outer but possibly on his way out of the club too, Griffin’s current preferred five-eighth, Bryce Cartwright has also hardly set the world on fire since his return from injury two rounds back.

But while the Panthers paid the price once again for such an extremely slow start to trail Brisbane 28-0, Moylan’s virtuoso 20 minute performance in attack where he primarily brought Penrith back into the game to trail 28-18, has once again raised speculation and opinion as to whether the skipper will make the Lockyer-like switch from fullback to five-eighth.

Such a move would then allow Cartwright to play in his preferred back-row position and allow Dylan Edwards to come into side, either as a fullback or on the wing.

But the Penrith skipper confirmed to Nepean News after the conclusion of the last ever City Country game to be played, that his playing future at Penrith remains in the fullback position, citing that such calls for the move only surface when the team isn’t winning.

“No I’m happy to play fullback and that’s where I want to play at the moment,” Moylan declared.

“My only goal is to win. I want to be winning and at the moment my best position for the club is to be playing fullback.

“All this stuff gets mentioned more when we’re not winning.

“If we’re winning nothing of this stuff gets brought up.”

Having said the Penrith five-eighth spot isn’t for him, Moylan refused to be drawn into who should be, adding that wins will answer these questions.

“That’s not up to me. From the club’s standpoint the side gets selected and we’ve just got to go out there and win with whoever is picked,” Moylan said.

“It’s a business about winning and if we are winning none of these questions get asked.

“It’s no one’s fault, we’re a team and we’ve just got to go out there and put in the performances we know we are capable of.”

Having dispelled those rumours at a club level, Moylan admits to wanting to play in the 6 for NSW (he would be happy to be picked anywhere in the 17) and would have loved the opportunity to play in the 6 jumper for City in front of Blues coach, Laurie Daley.

“With Origin I just want to play,” Moylan declared.

“It’s a massive arena and such an awesome experience that I want to be part of again.

“I would have enjoyed the opportunity to play there (at 6) today but played fullback the whole game and enjoyed the game and the week.

“But in saying that, that dream will only come true if I put some good performances for Penrith and everyone wants people that are winning.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks before that’s all said and done so if we can put our best foot forward in the meantime and get a couple of wins that puts us in good stead to be contention (again).”

While NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley could only say Moylan remains in the mix to retain his spot in the NSW 17, City Origin coach Brad Fittler was full of praise.

“I thought he was great, I really do,” Fittler said.

“He (Moylan) saved a try early and Tariq Sims he slowed him down enough for the Ross Dog (Nathan Ross) a chance to get him.

“I thought his attack was great. The chip was a bit off the cuff and a bit loose but he said he got a call from the inside and he backed his team mate so I appreciated that.

“Like he was in the last Origin, I thought today Moylan was dangerous every time he got the ball.”

Photo Credits: NRL Photos / 77 Media.

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