Latrell Mitchell looks to be back to his best after spearheading South Sydney's 36-28 NRL win over Canterbury.
Latrell Mitchell helped South Sydney avoid a banana skin against Canterbury as the Rabbitohs wrapped up a 36-28 win to strengthen their grip on seventh spot on the NRL table.
In just his third game back from a hamstring injury, Mitchell showed signs he had returned to his best as he carried the Rabbitohs to their fifth win in six games.
The fullback finished the evening's play at Accor Stadium with three try-assists and a try of his own, along with four goals from seven attempts.
Winger Alex Johnston was also impressive, grabbing his 12th career hat-trick against a Canterbury side that had to play the last 15 minutes without Josh Addo-Carr due to a glute injury.
Canterbury were leading 22-16 with a quarter of the game to go, their attack again firing in a manner which supports the view interim coach Mick Potter should be handed the reins permanently.
But just when the Bulldogs looked to be heading towards victory, a rampaging run by Mitchell on his way to his sole try of the night turned the game in the Rabbitohs' favour.
"I thought for us to come back from behind several times in the game showed where this team is going," Souths coach Jason Demetriou said.
"We have got some pretty important players to come back into the team next week which will raise the bar again."
Souths began brightly when Lachlan Ilias regathered his own grubberkick to score the opener after three minutes.
Former Rabbitohs centre Braidon Burns crossed for the Dogs' first of the night before Declan Casey notched his maiden NRL try to give Canterbury the upper hand.
Canterbury's surge seemed to spark the Bunnies out of their slumber, with Keaon Koloamatangi putting Cody Walker over with a deft one-handed offload before Mitchell sent Johnston in for a 16-10 half-time lead.
Demetriou singled out the way Walker and Mitchell rose the occasion in a side without Origin stars Damien Cook and Cameron Murray.
"We needed Latrell and Cody to stand up when we were behind," he added.
"They both came up with some pretty big plays and that's what you want from your leaders.
"If they keep doing that then we'll be in a good place come finals."
Joe Stimson and fullback Jake Averillo, who scored his sixth try in five games since shifting to the No.1 role under Potter, both touched down in the second half to give Canterbury hope of an upset.
Mitchell had other ideas, receiving a Kodi Nikorima offload from 40 metres out and breezing past three Bulldogs defenders to score.
Paul Vaughan crashed over to put Canterbury 28-22 up with 10 minutes left on clock but from there the Bunnies flicked a switch to wrap up the win.
Mitchell sent Tevita Tatola and Johnston over to score before the winger added his third.
"The game goes for 80 minutes and we've got to be (more) resilient," Potter said.
"I think we let ourselves down there with a couple of little plays that really got us.
"Our boys played some good footy and scored five tries but the problem is they scored seven and that's too many."
