This week he was the Bulldogs hero. Next week could go back to being the super-sub – and Moses Mbye insists he's okay with that.
The stand-in five-eighth nailed the match-winning field goal in Friday night's 25-24 golden point win over the Wests Tigers, describing his clutch game-winner as a childhood dream.
"I've been watching the likes of Darren Lockyer and [Johnathan] Thurston do stuff like that since I was a little kid, so it was always a dream. I'm happy we got away with a win there," Mbye told NRL.com post-game.
"That's what it's all about I guess. As a rugby league player, that's what you want to do. I really enjoyed it."
His elation could be short-lived however, with the utility hinting that regular pivot Josh Reynolds could make a surprise return from injury as early as next week.
The incumbent NSW No.6 was due to miss six to eight weeks after fracturing his arm in the club's season-opening loss to Penrith in Round 1, but Mbye indicated that he was ready to hand Reynolds back his spot earlier.
"He's due back next week or the following week. It's his position there, so I think he deserves to get his position back," he said.
"He's done an outstanding job over the last few years in that role, represented his state and won them a series and ended the drought. All respect to Josh – he really deserves that position back when he's ready to go.
"It's just part of the job I guess. That's the position, that's my role at the moment. I'm filling in for him. We'll see how he goes when he's ready to come back."
For now Bulldogs fans will be heralding their 21-year-old fill-in, who took the team's second shot at the sticks after halfback Trent Hodkinson missed the first.
"I think he had a bit too much kick pressure there, so he swung it to me and I was lucky enough, I think I just got it over. A win's a win," he said.
"I was in position just in case, as a bit of a back up there. Hokko didn't really get a good catch on it, so he put a bit of faith in me and I'm happy I can pay him back with it."
With just 20 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs had to draw on all their fighting qualities to claw their way back from an 18-point deficit and send the game into overtime.
Hodkinson and Tigers halfback Luke Brooks traded missed field goals before Mbye stepped up with his heroics.
"This bunch of boys here have so much faith in each other, covering each other's backs like there's no tomorrow. There's a never-say-die attitude here, so we put that into play. We were happy to get out of jail there," he said.
Coach Des Hasler said Mbye has "got a big future" in the game.
"I think he's been playing pretty confidently. He's that kind of kid – pretty humble in the way that he goes about himself and conducts himself. He's got a big future," he said.
