His three tries tore apart St George Illawarra, but Canberra Raiders star Reece Robinson could have been wearing the famous Red V last Monday night - if Wayne Bennett had had his way.
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At the request of Robinson's famous cousin, Anthony Mundine, Bennett handed Robinson his first NRL opportunity at the Brisbane Broncos in 2008.
Bennett yesterday revealed only salary cap pressures prevented him from offering Robinson a contract at St George Illawarra when he headed there the following year.
While he undoubtedly retains a soft spot for the Dragons, the Newcastle coach would have allowed himself a smile watching Robinson's match-winning display.
He witnessed first-hand how the 25-year-old has persevered and worked hard for an opportunity to reach his potential.
The Raiders largely have Bennett to thank for the rising star making the capital his home.
"Choc [Mundine] rang me and said he knows a guy down there he reckoned could play, and no-one was giving him an opportunity," Bennett told The Canberra Times.
"He asked if I would take him, and I said 'yeah, Choc, no problems'.
"I took him on his word and Reece was a bloody wonderful young man. I couldn't believe what a good citizen he was in that regard.
"I gave him some chances because I realised he had a bit of talent. Choc wasn't making it up."
Bennett was shocked when the Broncos didn't re-sign Robinson after he left for Wollongong, which forced him to spend a year in NRL purgatory in NSW Cup with North Sydney.
"I was surprised. He was young and I thought he'd take a bit of time ... I rated him very highly," Bennett said.
"I would have taken him to the Dragons - it wouldn't have been an issue - but at the time they couldn't take him because there was a stack of others there - [Brett] Morris, [Jason] Nightingale, Wendell [Sailor], Darius [Boyd] at fullback.
"It was too difficult and I knew I couldn't give him many chances there."
Bennett didn't hesitate in giving him a glowing recommendation when Canberra was on the lookout for outside backs for 2010.
The Raiders signed him on a meagre contract, and the gamble has paid off for both parties in spades.
Bennett has monitored Robinson's progress since and has taken plenty of pleasure from his rise to prominence since replacing injured Josh Dugan at fullback.
"I get elated for him the way he's been playing. I always watch him play and I enjoy seeing him get success and getting the notoriety he has now," Bennett said.
"He was the difference between the two teams [against the Dragons]; how he didn't get man of the match was beyond me.
"He's a football player, he's got great leg speed, tremendous footwork and he knows what's going on out there. He's a good decision maker."
While Robinson could have been a Dragon, he also considered forging a career in rugby union as a teenager.
He admitted his former manager, Wallabies great Glen Ella, was always in his ear about a potential move to the "dark side".
"He [Ella] was always trying to get me to union, but I kept trying league and finally got the opportunity," Robinson said.
"At one stage I got pretty close [to playing rugby union] when I finished school, but I decided to stay.
"I'm glad I got the start here, and I'm just repaying the faith, really."
In two weeks, Raiders coach David Furner will face a dilemma - where does he play Robinson and Dugan when they're both available?
After more than 25 years as an NRL coach, Bennett knows it's a great headache to have.
"You find a place for them," he said. "The coach will work that out.
"The good thing is Reece has reached his potential - that's what I'm happy about."