Jamal Idris has hailed Penrith's dramatic last-gasp NRL qualifying victory over the Sydney Roosters on Saturday as the highlight of his career.
Jamie Soward's field-goal with seven seconds remaining secured a shock 19-18 win over the premiers, earning the Panthers a week off to prepare for the preliminary final against Manly or Canterbury.
Idris has excelled at the Panthers under coach Ivan Cleary and came back strongly after taking time away from the game in mid-season to deal with some off-field issues.
The giant former NSW centre moved to Penrith at the start of the year after being granted an early release from the Gold Coast and is now one game away from playing in a grand final.
"It was 100 per cent (my best moment), as soon as Sowie got the kick I was running around and didn't know who to go to," Idris said.
"I went to run off and Sowie said there still five seconds to go. I then had run back on and I was worried they were going to kick it short to my side. I was just lost.
"It's happy days, let's have another latte."
Idris was part of the Bulldogs side that lost the 2009 preliminary final to Parramatta and remembers the difficulties of trying to maintain momentum after earning a week off.
"We have the week off you have to make sure you don't fall off," he said.
"But we have worked hard all year and we are desperate to reach our ultimate goal which is to win the premiership.
"I remember Micky Ennis ringing me after the Bulldogs lost in 2012 and he was heartbroken. I remember thinking I never want that to be me.
"That is what keeps me going to play as well as I can."
The Penrith area has taken this current side, which has been written off all year, to their hearts and Idris said he's been blown away with how the local community have got behind the team.
"The fans were going off their heads at the footy stadium on Saturday, and why shouldn't they," he said.
"It's epic for Penrith. Apparently they were all going off in the RSL across the way - I reckon I would be too if I was in there with them.
"The people here love their footy. One thing I love about them is when an opposing player is down hurt they don't start chanting insults they just love the game."
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