Supercoach Wayne Bennett says the respect afforded Jamie Soward at Penrith has allowed the much-maligned playmaker to do for the Panthers what he did for Bennett's Dragons in their charge to premiership glory in 2010.
The Panthers were criticised in some quarters when they signed Soward to a four-year deal last year, but Bennett insists he is not surprised to see the impact Soward is having in a superb first season at the foot of the mountains.
"They never lose their ability," Bennett said. "He's had an outstanding season and has just got better each week. He's a guy who is pretty much in control of his game right now. He's happy again and enjoying his footy. Jamie is one of those players, and most of us are in the in same category, that is at their best when he's happy and enjoying himself.
"I don't know about needing to feel loved, but he certainly needs to feel valued. He just needs that, and most do. He knows he has the respect of all the players out there and he had that from all the Dragons players in the three years I was there."
Soward's career was in limbo when he was ushered out the door by the Dragons mid-way through last year but the 29-year-old has proved to be the buy of the season under the tutelage and care of coach Ivan Cleary.
He orchestrated one of the biggest finals boilovers in recent memory on Saturday night when he slotted a last-minute field goal to sink the premiers Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
Bennett, who attended Soward's wedding last November, was full of praise for his former five-eighth. He insists Soward is just replicating the form that guided the Dragons to a long-awaited title and gained him NSW Origin selection.
"I'm a bit low key about what he is doing because of what he did for us at the Dragons," Bennett said.
"He was wonderful what he did at the Dragons. We won a premiership and he was instrumental in that, he also played Origin. What he did [on Saturday night] he did for us in 2010 against the Tigers when we won 13-12 [in the preliminary final]. He kicked the field goal that night, too. I'm not seeing anything from Jamie that I haven't seen or didn't know he has got.
"He's a clever player, he's a thinker. He's been a talent for a long period of time. I knew that all those years ago when I first saw him play for the Roosters. He's never been a drama off the field in the game, he's got very good principles and is a good bloke. He probably couldn't have handled captaincy four or five years ago but he's matured a lot. He relishes that extra responsibility and is doing a good job of it."
Most thought Soward's split from the Dragons would mark the beginning of the end for a career that has produced a roller coaster ride of emotions. But not Bennett.
"I didn't fear for him," Bennett said. "He's an easy guy to coach and someone who has always had wonderful ability. Everyone's got an opinion on him but the bottom line is he knows how to get the job done.
"He was doing it pretty tough there at the Dragons in the end. That was having a big impact on it all. But he got away, he got married, found a new club and is enjoying himself again. I spoke to him about a month ago, and when he's playing like that we don't even need to talk about footy."
Soward is once again the talk of rugby league. He has always polarised opinion, and while he's copped his fair share of criticism throughout his career, is finally getting the accolades Bennett says he deserves.
"He's the talk of rugby league either way," Bennett said. "I've never seen a guy who people have so many opinions about. When he's great he's the talk of the game, and even when he is great people still find faults and have an opinion on him. He's been through some tough times but I have no doubts about what Jamie Soward can do."
