Nathan Cleary made a successful return to the field on Friday evening after missing three matches with a shoulder injury.
The star halfback was also sidelined for a couple of months with a similar issue earlier in the season, but you wouldn't have known based on his performances in 2024.
Cleary's most recent recovery was timely, with the Panthers suffering a small dip in form coming into the finals.
He was cleared to return for their qualifying final against the Roosters, where he hit the ground running and helped his side claim a dominant 30-10 win.
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Two try assists, four tackle breaks and 375 kicking metres – it's fair to say he slotted back in seamlessly, despite worries about his shoulder.
Post-match, he explained why it was important to get involved in some heavy tackles early.
"I was pretty confident with [my shoulder]," Cleary said.
"I thought, you know, I did get a lot of work through the week, and I gave myself a chance to be out here tonight.
"It was good to sort of get a tackle early on and just know that I was alright and just get into the game.
"And I think usually when I play my best it's with a defensive mindset. So I was happy I could get some [big collisions] out of the way early."
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Cleary then reflected on his 2024 season thus far, where he has had less field time than expected.
"It's been a frustrating year," he said.
"The times I have been injured, I just feel bad that I'm not out there and being able to go to battle alongside my brothers.
"It's almost embarrassing sometimes getting those injuries and just having to take time out again.
"So it's been an up-and-down year, but I sort of set [my] sights on this game and just had to get over it. There's no point moping around.
"I had to be a positive influence on the team, even though I wasn't playing ... in the background, just working hard to put my best foot forward.
"I'm really happy with how tonight went. Obviously, there's more ahead of us, and I've got to keep working hard and keep putting myself in the best position to help the team."
Cleary and the Panthers will now have a week off before their preliminary final, with the side just 160 minutes away from a potential four-peat.
