But rewind to midway through last season and Johnston had all but accepted that he'd have to reluctantly leave his beloved Rabbitohs.
If not for some eventual salary cap manoeuvring, the 26-year-old wouldn't have topped the try-scoring list for a second straight season in 2021. Nor would he be vying for a second premiership on Sunday.
It might be overshadowed by potential fairytale departures for Wayne Bennett, Adam Reynolds and Benji Marshall, but Johnston will have his own feel-good story if South Sydney trump Penrith.
