Latrell Mitchell's bid to one day be the NRL's best fullback has been given another tick, with the South Sydney No.1 topping the Dally M race for the first time in his career.
Just weeks into his return from a hamstring injury, Mitchell has been the NRL's best over the first three weeks of the competition.
Mitchell's move to fullback when he left the Sydney Roosters was endlessly questioned early last year, with his work rate down as he found the groove in his new position.
But after the Rabbitohs defended the move for weeks on end, it can now be declared an unequivocal success.
The Souths fullback has claimed points in each of the Rabbitohs' first three games, including being judged man of the match in the past two.
"He has shown over the first three weeks of the competition he's got the skillset," five-eighth Cody Walker said.
"It's been a credit to him the way he came back early from his hamstring. He put a lot of work into his body and he is a lot fitter than last year.
"He is reaping the rewards. It's awesome to see.
"I have never seen a player throw a 20-metre cut-out both sides of the field like him, and he does it so effortlessly which is great."
Mitchell's seven points see him lead Brett Morris and Ben Hunt by one vote, while a host of players are on five.
The 23-year-old's form comes at an ominous time for South Sydney's rivals, given their soft run of Canterbury, Brisbane and Wests Tigers in the next three weeks.
His start to the year is also another sign that Souths' attack can gel with him at the back.
While there were questions over how he would fit back into their red-hot system from the end of last year, he has scored two tries and set up four others while busting 13 tackles.
"My job ultimately is to give Latrell the ball in the best possible way and get him clean and early ball and let him do the rest," Walker said.
"He can run and do it all.
"It's up to us as halves and the rest of the team to put him in positions where he can showcase those skills."
