Canterbury fullback Ben Barba says his incredible put-down against Newcastle on Saturday night, lauded as one of the best tries of all time, isn't even the first time he's executed such a manoeuvre.

He left onlookers stunned in the final minutes of the Bulldogs' 32-22 win over the Knights, when he executed a try with a degree of difficulty that has arguably never been seen before.

Barba had no hesitation in confirming it was the best try he'd ever scored, but said if there was a highlight reel of his junior days, there would be something similar.

"I think I've had one of them before, but not as dramatic," he said.

"When I was young, up in Queensland (I scored one like that).

"I am just shocked that I got it, luckily we have technology like that these days to slow it down."

Barba admits that, like everyone else at ANZ Stadium and watching on television, he didn't think he'd scored until he watched the replay.

In the 75th minute, Barba chased a Jonathan Wright kick, but the ball bounced aggressively towards the dead-ball line.

However, with his feet millimetres inside the chalk, the 22-year-old sensation threw himself head first for the turf, grabbed hold of the ball and almost in slow motion, managed to reach it back in the field of play and force it on the grass.

After that he fell awkwardly onto his head before completing a summersault.

There have been so many incredible displays of skill and athleticism this year in the NRL it might seem as though branding another stunning touch down as "try of the year" is a little over done.

But there was no other way of describing this piece of magic.

"No I didn't (think he'd scored)," said Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan.

"I thought he knocked it on or it went out or something.

"After a few shots, it was amazing. He's a freak."

Just three weeks ago, two try-of-the-year candidates were scored on the one Saturday night.

David Mead from the Gold Coast and Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson delivered scorchers in their respective matches which added to incredible efforts earlier in the season by Manly's Brett Stewart (in setting up Daly Cherry-Evans), Canberra's Blake Ferguson and Brisbane's Jack Reed - to name a few.

Barba's Saturday night double broke the record for most tries by a Bulldogs fullback in a season.

He's on 19 for 2011 and a double could see him join South Sydney leader Nathan Merritt (21) as the season's top try scorer.

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