Latrell Mitchell has made his mark in his first NRL match since August but his Rabbitohs team came up agonisingly short in a 1-point loss to Melbourne.
The star fullback played a pivotal part in Souths overturning a 14-nil halftime deficit to send the match into extra time.
He laid on two tries during a 15-minute burst but was unable to convert any of the Bunnies' three four-pointers.
In the dying seconds, the Biripi and Wiradjuri man stepped up and launched a 45-metre 2-point field goal through the posts to level the scores and set up what seemed an unlikely shot at victory.
But Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen iced the match with a field goal early in the extra-time period following a Souths error.
Coach Jason Demetriou was impressed with Mitchell's first hitout in almost seven months.
"I thought he was pretty good considering the time he's had out of the game and the miles that you have to do at fullback," he said.
"I thought he handled it pretty well and he's only going to get better."
Mitchell had to watch the Rabbitohs 2021 grand-final run from the sidelines after copping a six-match suspension for a high tackle on friend and Roosters centre Joey Manu in Round 24 last year.
The hit sparked a lot of public commentary at the time, but Mitchell told Fox Sports this week that the pair are on good terms.
“I didn’t really trust too many people to talk about Joey. That’s why I haven’t really come out and said anything. I couldn’t be more apologetic," he said.
“I love him. He’s my brother. I don’t want to hurt my mates but that’s the game, split-second things happen. I can’t control what happened in the past but I can control what is ahead and in the present."
Mitchell also missed the 2020 finals campaign through injury and has now given up alcohol for the year to focus on the Rabbits' title tilt.
“I’ve been nine weeks ‘off it’ and I’m feeling as fresh as I ever have,” he told Fox Sports.
“I don’t mind a beer but it’s been the best for me. I’ve been thinking a lot clearer.”
