Matt Moylan isn't the first footballer in his family to play representative football.
Moylan's older brother Ben is a mainstay of the all-conquering Australian touch football team and is a previous captain of the side. The pair played together at international level before Matt turned his full attention to his dream of playing in the NRL.
The younger Moylan will fulfil another ambition on Wednesday night when he becomes one of four NSW debutants to run out against Queensland at ANZ Stadium. The St Clair Comets junior quickly rose to prominence when he made his NRL debut for his silky skills, coupled with the fact his initial stint in first grade was limited by Penrith's second-tier salary cap situation.
However, he was no overnight success, having been overlooked for rep teams while coming through the grades. Many of his contemporaries were touted for bigger things, but it will be Moylan who pulls on the sky blue jersey in the opening game of the interstate series.
"He was a handy footballer, but he only really got better as he got older," said Ben Moylan, 26.
"When he got a crack at 20s he didn't look back, that's when he started to shine.
"[He made it] because he didn't have that limelight on him. He stuck to what he was good at, that kept him motivated. He knew what he wanted and now he's there."
It's a good thing, too. After finishing school, Matt Moylan would occasionally help out Ben and his mates with building work between his footballing commitments.
"He was terrible," Ben recalled. "He didn't have it in him, he wasn't motivated to be building."
Asked if the younger sibling was lazy or clueless, Ben replied: "A bit of both."
Moylan has come a long way since. Such is the esteem in which he is held at the foot of the mountains, he was named skipper at the start of the year despite the presence of more seasoned players. While he is contracted until the end of next season, Penrith is well down the track in negotiations to extend Moylan's tenure to ensure he remains a one-club man.
Thirty-four of his mates, excluding family, have arranged to be at Moylan's Origin debut. While there has been much speculation about him shifting to five-eighth in the future, his immediate focus will be on cementing the Blues No.1 jersey long term.
"I reckon he's going to go really well," Ben said.
"He's pretty level-headed, he doesn't feel pressure - well he does, but he somehow uses it to his advantage.
"I can't wait to see him out there. He loves being around his mates and having fun. That keeps him grounded a lot because if he ever tried to get a big head, one of the boys would put him in his place.
"He's just a positive bloke to be around."
As for who won the backyard games of footy?
"I was always on the opposite side - he beat me and my mate when it was two-on-two, they used to win," Ben said. "He was a handy touch footballer as well."
