The NRL's relocation to Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 was a tumultuous time for the entire sport but it also helped sow the seeds for South Sydney's shock bid to sign Canberra star Jack Wighton.
The Rabbitohs came from nowhere earlier this week to hit the front in the race to sign the New South Wales and Australian representative with Wighton's relationship with close mate Latrell Mitchell the driving force behind the unexpected development.
But Wighton's links with South Sydney go deeper than his friendship with Mitchell – they stretch all the way back to NRL's wholesale COVID relocation two years ago.
"When we were in lockdown we hung out with the Raiders boys a lot, we were in the same hotel and we weren't playing against them again that season," said Rabbitohs prop Tom Burgess.
"After games it'd be the Raiders and the Rabbitohs so there's a link there, he's a great lad, everyone speaks highly of him. I think he'd be a great fit at our club, he's a big family man with a few kids.
"Quite a few of our English lads have played in Canberra and they all say good things about him and a lot of the boys have played with him.
"I know Jack through (English international) Elliott Whitehead, I'm good mates with him and they're good mates. He'd be a massive addition to any team, it's just a matter of fitting him in."
Wighton is expected to make a decision on his future in the next few days after meeting with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett in Brisbane on Thursday before breaking bread with South Sydney's powerbrokers on Friday.
The Rabbitohs already have a fair claim to being the most dangerous attacking team in the NRL and adding Wighton at left centre would only make them even more potent.
But there's plenty for Souths to do before any potential Wighton arrival with the club coming off their best win of the season after sneaking home 20-18 against Penrith on Thursday night.
Given the Panthers have ended the Rabbitohs season in each of the last three years, including in the 2021 grand final, the club's first win over the two-time premiers since 2019 could be one of the first signs that things might be different this time around.
"The two points was the most pleasing thing. It's one-all now, which makes it good for the big end of the season," Burgess said.
"We're all still building our game, we're not the team we'll be in Round 26. We're still looking to improve each week."
As the club awaits a decision from Wighton the challenges continue to mount – next week they'll be facing the Broncos in Brisbane, which means another meeting with former club legend Adam Reynolds.
After Burgess led from the front in the middle of the field against Penrith he'll need to repeat the dose against Broncos enforcers Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan, a challenge the veteran will relish.
"I missed both games last year against Broncos so I'll be looking forward to play against my old mate (Reynolds). It'll be a good contest, they've come out firing this year, they're playing some good footy. It'll be good to see how we go against them," Burgess said.
"(Payne Haas) is carrying the ball really strongly and he's dangerous with metres after contact. He's got the most offloads in the league, so we'll have to lock that up.
"They're laying that platform for the other boys to do well and Herbie Farnworth's playing really well, he's a good Yorkshire bloke."
