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Cameron Murray has led South Sydney to a gutsy 16-10 NRL upset win over the Sydney Roosters as Wayne Bennett's side locked up a top four spot.
South Sydney star Cameron Murray has revealed he hasn't played centre since under-10s after inspiring a bruised and battered Rabbitohs to a 16-10 upset of the Sydney Roosters.
For the second straight week, Murray turned in a barnstorming display which paved the way for his side's victory.
After leading from the front against the Warriors, he played a very different role in the surprise win which reinforced the Rabbitohs' title bona fides and locked up a top four spot.
The Rabbitohs were struck a huge blow midway through the second-half when Dane Gagai hobbled from the field with a hamstring injury.
Coach Wayne Bennett seemingly had a ready made replacement on the bench in Ethan Lowe who has started three games in the backline this year.
But he threw a curveball and asked Murray to move into the unfamiliar position.
Many couldn't understand the move considering that Roosters centre Joey Manu was dominating on the right edge, including setting up Billy Smith's try with a brilliant flick pass after sucking in two defenders.
But Murray turned in a stellar defensive effort and he put an exclamation mark on his performance in the dying moments when he pulled off a stinging hit on Smith to force the ball loose.
It was a massive moment in the context of the game given the Rabbitohs had only 12 fit players after losing Gagai as well as Liam Knight, Junior Tatola, John Sutton and Adam Reynolds to head injury assessments and the Roosters were laying siege to their line.
His showing was especially significant given Murray admitted he hadn't played in the outside backs since his days with the Masot Jets over 10 years ago.
"It was different, something I haven't done before at the top level," Murray said.
"The boys really helped me out as well, Cody (Walker), AJ (Alex Johnston), they're really good talkers. We knew we just had to get the job done.
"I'm really pleased we could keep that edge, and the whole team, scoreless in the second half."
Bennett said he considered moving Lowe to centre but didn't believe he could have handled the challenge of containing Manu.
"I just thought he was probably the only guy in the team who could stop Manu, the way he was creating a bit of havoc in the first half," Bennett said.
"With Dane gone and James (Roberts) not playing and Braidon Burns not there, Cam has got the nous, the know-how and the ability to defend that position and he was outstanding.
"I didn't think Ethan could handle the situation to be honest with you, I just thought Cam could handle it because of his athletic (ability) and his mind and his ability to tackle."
