Latrell Mitchell has helped South Sydney flip the script on Penrith, inspiring the Rabbitohs to a come-from-behind 20-18 victory over the defending premiers at Stadium Australia.
In a thrilling finish, the Rabbitohs trailed 18-10 with six minutes left in the match, before Mitchell scored a try off a Lachlan Ilias kick.
The Rabbitohs fullback was denied moments later when Nathan Cleary dragged him down from behind after a line break.
But the Rabbitohs were still able to provide a last-gasp effort to win the match when Mitchell offered space on the left edge, before Alex Johnston offloaded and Cody Walker put Isaiah Tass over.
It was only the Rabbitohs' second win over Penrith in their last 12 matches, a run that has often seen the Panthers fight back to win.
For parts of Thursday night's clash it appeared it was going to be the same old story again for South Sydney.
Stephen Crichton scored all 18 of Penrith's points, including tries in the 66th and 71st minutes to take his side from 10-8 down to 18-10 up.
There had even been a Crichton intercept-of-sorts off Walker when he latched onto a kick from the five-eighth and went down field to put the Panthers on the attack for the back-to-back tries.
But while Crichton — who finished with a hat-trick of tries — almost sealed victory for the Panthers, it was Mitchell who played a crucial part in ensuring the Rabbitohs came away with the two competition points.
He finished the match with 14 tackle busts and one line break, after having a role in all four of the Rabbitohs' tries.
He got the home side on the front foot for their first try when he put on a flick pass for Johnston, before he bounded out of dummy half on the next play.
He had his hands on the ball again later in the set, ahead of Damien Cook darting over from dummy half.
Then when the Rabbitohs trailed 8-6 early in the second half, Mitchell did it all himself to put his side back in the lead when he beat three Panthers to score after a 10-metre scrum.
That all came before his heroics in the final six minutes, again emphasising why he is one of the most important players at South Sydney this century.
Ultimately it was enough to cancel out Crichton's brilliance for Penrith and Jarome Luai's threat in attack, handing the Panthers their third loss of the season and moving the Rabbitohs to provisional third spot on the ladder.
AAP
