South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell claims his ability to narrow his focus since returning from the United States is behind his dominant surge into the NRL's finals. Mitchell remains in career-best form this season, and looms as the genuine X-factor giving the Rabbitohs a shot at only their second premiership in 51 years. In the 11 matches since returning from work on his hamstring in the US, Mitchell has busted 58 tackles ahead of Saturday's semi-final against Cronulla. He was again Souths' best in Sunday's dramatic win over the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try, setting up another and nailing five goals in the must-win affair. But it was notable that in all the drama of seven sin-bins in the match, Mitchell was not one of the players who landed himself in trouble. The 25-year-old claims there was baiting going on both from the crowd and on the field, but refused to be drawn into the drama like he has in the past. "I just knew my job and what I wanted to do. I was pretty clear with what I wanted to achieve and I'm pretty sure we got that done," Mitchell told reporters. It's a key facet in the shift that has made him so successful this year. "Every time I play the game, I try to focus and prepare as well as I can to be the best version of myself," Mitchell said. "This year has been a testament to it and it really showed what it took to do it off the field. "I rip in every day and even on my days off that no one sees, I try to put my best foot forward and get myself mentally prepared." The emotion in Mitchell's run is also clear. Rubbed out of the 2020 and 2021 postseasons through injury and suspension, Sunday marked Mitchell's first final in Rabbitohs colours. After a week of headlines about being jeered by the Roosters crowd, he admitted he was overwhelmed by the support from Souths fans and got emotional up in a post-match interview with NSW coach Brad Fittler. "I was trying to talk and it just choked me up a little bit," Mitchell said. "A lot of gratitude came to me and a wave of emotion. It's been a long time coming. I really worked hard on myself mentally and physically. "It's been a rollercoaster of a ride for "Trell Mit" but I've really enjoyed the sacrifices I've had to make. "Leaving the country to do what I had to do, I took a lot out of it it." Australian Associated Press