Lachlan Lewis has announced himself as an NRL star of the future before admitting doubts about his spot in first grade.
Lewis celebrated his 22nd birthday on Sunday by booting the a clutch field goal to seal Cantebury's 27-26 boilover win against the Warriors at ANZ Stadium.
Lewis, the nephew of the great Wally Lewis, had a hand in many of his side's big moments as he gave a glimpse of his potential.
The former Canberra under-20s player set up two tries - throwing the last pass for Adam Elliott's four-pointer and putting a bomb on a dime for Brett Morris to bat back to his brother Josh - as well as scoring one himself.
He then killed dead the Warriors' second-half fightback by nailing a difficult attempt at one point from 33 metres out, 10 metres wide of the posts with just a minute remaining.
"That was my first-ever field goal too, in every football," Lewis said.
"I probably missed three from in front (over the course of his career).
"It was funny, I was practising field goals at the start of the week with the physio and he was telling me 'you've never kicked a field goal even at training'.
"It was pretty lucky and I guess that breeze pulled it over in the end."
Lewis was still unhappy with himself after failing to find touch in the 72rd minute and missing a tackle on Adam Blair in the lead up to Peta Hiku's try which levelled the scores.
The game was just Lewis' seventh in first grade, having made his debut in round 16 after Kieran Foran was ruled out for the season with a toe injury.
With Jack Cogger arriving at Belmore next year and Foran on the road to recovery, Dean Pay will have some options for his starting halves next year.
Lewis said he still had a lot more to prove.
"I hope I do belong. I think this has been a bit of a crazy last two months of the season," Lewis said.
"I wasn't in the pre-season mix, I wasn't training with the big boys, I was back in the (NSW) Cup side right up until halfway through the season, June 30.
"I think I do fit in but I have to perform each week to do that. I don't think I'm too complacent yet."
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