Pick me at six – that's the message from Blues incumbent Matt Moylan to NSW coach Laurie Daley and may just be the tonic to cure Penrith's early season woes.
Fairfax Media understands Moylan is keen to move into the halves in a bid to help ignite Penrith's stuttering season, but there has been a resistance at the Panthers to move the skipper out of the fullback position.
![Flexible: Matt Moylan is "comfortable" to play at No.6 if required.](/web/20170505071851im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/w/m/d/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvwkhi.png/1493624788773.jpg)
The Panthers skipper was told a fortnight ago that he would be the City Origin five-eighth, but a host of withdrawals and a team selection conundrum has forced him back into the familiar No.1 jersey for this Sunday's final clash against Country.
With James Tedesco all but guaranteed to wear the Blues No.1 jersey in the opening game of the series, Moylan has expressed his desire to move into the halves and appeared disappointed to learn the news that he would shift into the fullback role to accommodate Bryce Cartwright in the City Origin side.
"I spoke to Freddy [City coach Brad Fittler] a couple of weeks ago that I might be playing there at five-eighth," Moylan said.
"But obviously I'm playing fullback now. Yeah I would have liked the opportunity to play at six. Who knows, it still might happen. I'm not too sure what's going to happen. 'Teddy' played really well in game three last year and has been going good this year.
"There are a lot of good people playing fullback. You see 'Haynesy' has just come back and played two great games and Tom Trbojevic has been outstanding all year."
Moylan led NSW to their only win of last year's Origin series when he played in the halves in game three, but has since been denied the chance to do so at club level.
The Panthers had put their faith in Kiwi Te Maire Martin, but the talented young playmaker appears to be on the outer and could be released to join the Warriors or Tigers.
Cartwright has returned to the No.6 jersey he wore in guiding Penrith to the finals last year, but that appears to be a stop-gap solution.
When asked if envisaged making the move into the halves alongside Nathan Cleary at Penrith, Moylan said, "I don't know. You're asking the wrong person".
"You'll have to ask people at the club. Nothing has been said as of yet."
With James Maloney to be the first NSW playmaker picked, Moylan is in a three-way battle with Mitchell Pearce and Adam Reynolds to partner the Sharks premiership winner in the opening game of the series.
He hopes last year's game three triumph will work in his favour as Daley mulls over the selection of his team.
"I'm comfortable to play there. I've done the job there before and I'm more than happy to play six," Moylan said.
"I feel comfortable there. I enjoy playing there. If it pans out that way and 'Loz' wants me to play six I am more than happy to. If it is the case that I'm looking at the bench or at six, I know where I'd like to play.
"Hopefully what happened last year holds me in good stead. We obviously won that game. IÂ don't play there every weekend but I'm more than comfortable playing there. I'd be over the moon if I got the opportunity to play there again."
Moylan admits the City-Country selection is a welcome break from the disappointment of club football, with Panthers teammates James Tamou, Tyrone Peachey, Cleary and Cartwright all earning a spot in Fittler's team.Â
​"It's just good to get away and refresh a bit," Moylan said.
"It's obviously difficult times for us at Penrith at the moment with the way we're travelling. It's been very frustrating. It's good to break that up and get into camp. There are a lot of guys playing rep games this weekend. Hopefully we can all take something from it and kick our season on from there."
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