Dylan Lucas's remarkable recovery has put him in Newcastle's preliminary final against Penrith on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Newcastle forward returned during last weekend's elimination-final victory over the Warriors in Auckland.
Lucas had initially been expected to miss the rest of the season after fracturing and dislocating his ankle against the Roosters in round 21.
His comeback completes an extraordinary campaign, which also included his New South Wales debut in State of Origin.
Lucas has credited the late Scott Dureau with helping revive his career after the Dragons decided he was not wanted.
The Albion Park Eagles junior developed through the Illawarra Steelers system, but his prospects were uncertain.
Playing at five-eighth, Lucas was not considered a likely Dragons player at NRL level.
Dureau's influence helped change that path, preceding Lucas's emergence as a key Newcastle player and his unexpected return from injury.