Canberra speedster Xavier Savage has never looked more confident after his man-of-the-match performance against triple-reigning premiers Penrith reignited the Raiders' meagre finals chances.
But less than a year ago the promising winger was on the brink of being forced out of the club with his NRL future uncertain.
After making the Raiders' No.1 jersey his own in 2022, Savage made just one first-grade appearance in an injury-maligned campaign last season.
With a battle ahead of him to get back into the team he didn't help his case by returning from the off-season underdone.
Coach Ricky Stuart early this year admitted he had considered letting the 22-year-old find another club.
Savage said he took it in his stride.
"I knew that it was my actions in the off-season that led to that moment," he said.
"So it was up to me to make up for the rough off-season that I had. I didn't really train much when I was away on break, so I knew that that was all on me.
"When I came back he gave me a challenge, otherwise I knew there were gonna be consequences. So he gave me that challenge to sort of flip that around and I did that, and came back post-Christmas and I was ready to go and very happy with how I was."
The Cairns product has risen to the challenge, returning a career-best 13 tries from 22 appearances this season. His brace against the Panthers on Saturday was his first in the NRL.
If the Raiders miraculously make the top eight, Savage's match-winning runaway try after Jarome Luai's intercepted pass in the 71st minute will be the turning point.
He credits his own personal turnaround to a dose of good old-fashioned tough love.
"I sort of told (Stuart) myself, actually, that I like that tough love sort of way to handle myself. If he's not doing that then I kind of feel like he doesn't care," he said.
"But when I tell him to give me that tough love I know that he cares and I can handle it.
"When I first moved down here I was always taking it in the wrong way, not handling it well. But I've definitely learned to take that on board in a positive manner."
