Panthers fullback Matt Moylan breaks Queensland grip on Kangaroos No. 1 jersey

PANTHERS star Matt Moylan will end a run of Maroons dominance at fullback for the Kangaroos when he makes his debut against Scotland.

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MATT Moylan will become just the third New South Welshman in a decade and the first in seven years to wear the No. 1 Kangaroos jersey.

Billy Slater has dominated the fullback spot while the likes of Karmichael Hunt, Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd have also spent time there.

Only Kurt Gidley and Brett Stewart have been able to infiltrate the role in the past 47 games, but their time was limited to one match each.

Queensland players having a stranglehold in the position following the last of Anthony Minichiello’s 18 Tests in 2005.

Moylan gets his chance with Boyd and Inglis rested when Australia play Scotland.

Matt Moylan will be the first Blue to play in the No.1 Roos jumper since 2009. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It shows how good Queensland has been at Origin,” Moylan said. “It is why they’ve had that position. To get a run there now it is something special and (being the first New South Welshman in seven years) makes it a bit better.

“Darbs (Boyd) has been doing an outstanding job. I’m just going out there to do my role. If I end up getting an opportunity from that I’ll be stoked. I’m not looking past this game.”

Moylan’s Test career has had something of a false start in recent years. He said he has warmed up with the team on four occasions, after failing to play despite being part of the 2014 Four Nations squad. He was 18th man for the clash against New Zealand earlier this month but his wait is now over.

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“Having the excitement of being in the camp in 2014, I took a lot out of that, but there was disappointment of not getting a game,” Moylan said. “I’m pretty pumped about getting the opportunity. I just want to make the most of it.

“It’ll be good to finally be getting a jersey and playing a game. Not just doing the warm-up. Just being around the side is a good achievement. To finally put a jersey on and play the game it’ll be unreal.

“Having been in the squad a couple of years ago, it was something I wanted to achieve. It’s been a good year for me so far. To finish the year off with an Australian jersey is massive.”

Moylan will be one of five debutants in Australia’s opening game in Hull. His debut comes after playing all three games in his first State of Origin series for NSW.

Sam Thaiday trains Matt Moylan in Perth before the squad flew out to the UK.

“Having that rep experience has helped me,” Moylan said. “At the start of the year I wasn’t playing my best footy but found my feet during the Origin period and played my best footy at the back end of the year.

“It’s something I want to keep doing. I’m going to have to improve and grow as a player if I want to play more games there.”

Scotland are expected to have a handful of NRL players, featuring Lachlan Coote, Kane Linnett, Luke Douglas, Euan Aitken and Tyler Cassel.

MOYLAN ENDS MAROONS DOMINANCE

• A New South Welshman has not worn the No. 1 Kangaroos jersey since Kurt Gidley in 2009.
• Only on two occasions (Gidley and Brett Stewart) has a non-Queenslander started at fullback for Australia in the past 47 games since 2006.

• Kangaroos fullbacks in the past decade: Billy Slater (25 games), Karmichael Hunt (eight),

  Greg Inglis (seven), Darius Boyd (five), Kurt Gidley (one), Brett Stewart (one).

Originally published as Panthers fullback Matt Moylan breaks Queensland grip on Kangaroos No. 1 jersey