BY CURTIS WOODWARD

@woodward_curtis

Penrith Panthers flyer Josh Mansour is just happy to be back on the footy field after a successful return from six months out of the game.

Mansour starred as the resurgent Panthers hammered the struggling Canterbury Bulldogs 38-0 on Sunday.

And now the winger is aiming at reclaiming his spot in the Australian side at the World Cup.

“At the end of the game obviously I was very relieved,” Mansour said.

“The first 20 minutes was just getting into the game, I was trying to pace myself and get involved. I think that was the hardest part.

“But going into the second half I kind of found my second wind and I couldn’t be happier with the way we finished.”

It was Mansour’s first game since going down against Scotland in the Four Nations last October.

“It’s definitely in my mind (the World Cup). Obviously I’m back in the middle of the season but I want to finish the year strong and try and take my form into the World Cup,” he added.

“It’s the highest accolade you can get in rugby league. Obviously to play the World Cup on home soil, that would be a dream come true.”

Mansour said it may be too tough to break back into the New South Wales after their big win in Game I.

“It would be very hard to change that first team that won up in Queensland. To be honest, I’m not even thinking about Origin right now.

“If the opportunity arose, I’ll definitely be grateful to be back in that team but I just want to think about getting back my form from last year and we’ll see what happens.”

@woodward_curtis