Rugby League Ashes: “I’d like to see a great try at Wembley so they don’t have to display mine”

I started halfway within half of Great Britain. Bobby Goulding broke from a huddle and cleared Offiah, but was blocked by speedy Australian full-back Brett Mullins. From playing the ball, Alan Hunt, Goulding and Phil Clarke got the ball straight to Bates, who fed Davies at the halfway line with a long way to go.

“I noticed that Mullins got into a little tussle with Alan Hunt while playing ball,” recalls Davies.

“And when the ball came out, there was a good wide pass, and then it straightened out a little bit and there was a bit of a dog leg [where the defensive line is not straight]So I threw the doll and then suddenly I was in space. It was like slow motion at the time.

“Once I hit the gap, I hit open space. And the noise just hits you. It hits you, but it doesn’t affect you, because it’s like playing like a kid on the playground.

“And Brett Mullins was coming in and I knew that if I checked him a little bit, ducked my head, and then accelerated off my left foot, I would have a good chance of beating him because he was out of position because of that little clash he had.

“Ten yards away, I knew I killed him.”

Best Wembley try ever? There’s some friendly disagreement there. Six months ago, Offiah scored a stunning effort from distance, which finished in the same corner of the pitch, for Wigan against Leeds in the Challenge Cup Final.

“I went through Brad Fittler and Steve Renouf, and then out Brett Mullins,” says Davies. “Martin Offiah always says he scored the best try at Wembley, and I say: ‘Wait, who did you beat mate? Who did you beat?’

Offiah recalls: “I used to always joke with Jeffy that he scored the second best try ever at Wembley. He always says his effort was against a better opponent. But yeah, it was an amazing result. I would say it’s the moment Jeffy will remember.”

The attempt is set in the year 2025, and has a touch of poignancy. Ray French, the BBC television commentator who described it so memorably, died in July.

On the night of his death, BBC One’s late news channel published a short tribute. There was an archive clip: Davies’ attempt, in French words.

“It was a really emotional moment to remember that and remember Ray as well,” says Davies.