Prop Nathan Brown is within days set to re-sign with South Sydney for the next two years as the Rabbitohs move closer to finalising their squad for the 2017 NRL season.
NSW rake Robbie Farah remains the key piece of coach Michael Maguire's puzzle for next year. But Brown's commitment is a significant boost for the club.
Brown, 23, is one the NRL's most improved players this season and his performances from the bench have been crucial in the Rabbitohs' late-season resurgence.
Maguire has revived Brown's career over the past two seasons, after he played just one game for Wests in 2013 and didn't play any NRL in 2014.
"I want to stay here, Souths have helped me to become the person and the player I have," Brown told AAP.
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"Madge (Maguire) has been great for me and showed me what I need to do to be a professional football player."
Brown's ill-discipline was criticised earlier this year. But the hard-running and hard-hitting City Origin representative managed to work those bad habits out of his game.
"I have been pretty happy with my performances this year coming off the bench and lifting the team and lifting that energy," he said.
"I pride myself on that sort of stuff, on coming on and bringing my controlled aggression."
Out-of-favour Tigers hooker Farah has been strongly linked to a move to Redfern for 2017.
Souths, currently sitting in 13th place on the ladder with 18 points, play Newcastle and Canterbury over the final two rounds of 2016.
