But when Mair ran up to him with his hands in the air, waiting for the five-eight's embrace, all he got was a spray, as Soward pushed the trainer away and ordered him to leave the field.

And that was because Soward, who had been swarmed by teammates after landing the field goal, knew this was no time for celebration – there was still a game on.

While his teammates and support staff were in raptures over his field goal, Soward only had eyes for the clock, with referee Henry Perenara calling time off with fives seconds remaining on the clock.

But Mair was only doing what he had done all season in a bid to get the best out of the Penrith skipper, upholding a a deal he had made with Soward to show the playmaker some love while he was on the field to keep his confidence up.

"We've got a little bit of a thing going where I try to pump up his tyres," Mair said. "He responds so well to a little bit of loving. It's weird to say that a professional athlete needs it, but he performs better when he gets some love. I remember how well he played when Wendell [Sailor] pumped up his tyres.

"It's just something we do after each goal with a low five. It started off after he slotted one of those great goals earlier in the year. I got pumped and high-fived him. The next time I wasn't there to high-five him he said, 'Where the f--- are you, I need some love'. He loves it. He's a showman."

Mair wasn't aware there was still time on the clock on Saturday when he ran towards Soward – and was abruptly shut down. He said it was a reflection of his professionalism and mindset at the Panthers this season.

"I didn't even know there was five seconds to go, that's how switched on he was," Mair said. "I just said 'let's do the high five' and he said 'f--- off and tell the wingers to watch out for the short kick-off'. He was pumped and high-fiving but as soon as he got back to halfway, he switched straight back on."

Roosters fans have a strong dislike for Soward. Since leaving their club he's led the Dragons to a grand final win against them, and has now added a semi-final victory to that list.

He was heckled by the crowd all night. Mair, who high-fived Soward after his sideline conversion to level the game, knew the impact it would have on the Panthers No.7.

"When they started yelling 'Soward's a wanker' and booing him, I knew it would bring the best out in him," Mair said.

"He loves that. And I knew once they did that, he'd just love it. I haven't heard as much abuse as I did when he kicked that goal. He's never ever turned around or given fans the bird. I don't think he knows what they are saying because of how isolated he puts himself when he kicks. I talk to him from time to time and he doesn't even know."

The Panthers have made a habit out of playing out tight games this year. While they were all but over the line after Soward's field goal, the Penrith skipper said he was still worried about a Roosters miracle.

"I think it's the culture that they've built over a couple of years and I've bought into that," Soward said on The Sunday Footy Show.

"I think it's been shown a couple of times this year that it's an 80-minute game. We've been in a couple of tight ones. Mairsy has come on and trying to high five me or whatever he was doing and I told him to get off. Then [Brad Fittler was] trying to come on and I looked up and Henry Perenara had stopped the clock.

"I just had visions of Braith Anasta snapping that field goal a couple of years ago against the Tigers. I was just switched on and still panicking, but after that we enjoyed it."