He was voted the best player on the park and had a Test debut most players could only dream of, but that might not be enough to keep Matt Moylan in the Kangaroos’ 17 for next week.
A standout at fullback in Australia’s 54-12 victory over Scotland in the opening game of the 2016 Four Nations, Moylan set up four tries and made two line breaks on his way to man-of-the-match honours.
But with incumbent No.1 Darius Boyd likely to return to the squad for the clash against the Kiwis in Coventry next week, Moylan is no guarantee of having his name called out when Mal Meninga announces his side.
"Possibly yeah (Moylan could be left out next week), that’s the beauty of this team, we are 24 deep and they are all great players who deserve to be here," Meninga said.
"We will make those judgements down the track.
"Moylan was exceptionally good… right from the start I thought his touches were excellent.
"When the players think he was the best player on the footy field, that’s a big accolade for him, and on his debut."
Post-match Moylan remained realistic about the battle he faces to keep a spot, after a game where Australia rested five frontline players.
"Hopefully I can just get another game on this tour," Moylan said.
"I just wanted to focus on this game and put my best foot forward, and if I get another opportunity from that I will be stoked, but I am just happy to make my debut.
"It’s out of my control, there’s nothing I could sort of do there, I just had to focus on my game and to get the first game was a huge honour and something I have wanted to do ever since I was a kid.
"I can’t say I was going into the game thinking it was going to pan out the way it did."
Moylan was joined by another star debutant in Manly forward Jake Trbojevic, who scored a try and ran for 124 metres after starting at lock for the world champions.
The occasion was made even more special for the 22-year-old, with parents John and Melissa making the trip over from Australia to Hull to witness his debut.
"That was awesome that they came over, I had no idea [where they were in the crowd], but it was obviously pretty special," Trbojevic said.
"They wouldn’t miss it for the world.
"Once I knew I was going to play I told them… I sort of knew a little bit before so I told them, that was pretty cool for them."
