Two years after he was working as a barman at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, South Sydney winger Andrew Everingham admits he’s still coming to terms with his brilliant debut NRL season.

With his dreams of cracking the NRL ebbing away, the 25-year-old was offered a lifeline last December by Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.

Maguire offered him a second-tier contract with a promise of nothing more than being given an opportunity to show what he can do after watching him on a DVD when still coaching at Wigan.

After impressing Maguire and his coaching staff in pre-season, Everingham was handed his chance in round three against Penrith, where he scored a try with his first touch of the ball, and he hasn’t looked back since.

The former Wests Tigers junior’s try against Newcastle in Souths’ 34-14 win on Sunday was his 11th in 14 games.

It helped consolidate the Rabbitohs’ spot in the top eight, where they sit in fifth behind Manly on points differential and with a first finals appearance since 2007 a genuine possibility.

“It’s been unreal,” Everingham told AAP on Monday.

“In my first year playing for Wests Magpies they gave me a job at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club bar tending and looking after the pokies.

“Then I started running my own PT (personal training) business while still playing NSW Cup.”

Having seen life on the other side has given Everingham a greater appreciation of not only what it takes to make the NRL, but also how good superstars likes of Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and David Taylor really are.

“Having worked before, I take nothing in the game for granted, and it definitely makes me want to keep improving,” said Everingham.

“I am working a lot harder now than I did when I was working. Doing gym work, video and focusing on footy. But it’s what I’ve always wanted and I am loving every minute of it.

“Seeing GI, Dave and Sam day in day out, you see how good those guys are, more so than you do when you watch games on TV.

“I feel very lucky to count them as my teammates.”