South Sydney prop Liam Knight has credited Canberra coach Ricky Stuart for his role in helping him bounce back from a shaky start to his NRL career.

Knight will look to continue his breakout season when the Rabbitohs face the Raiders in their grand final qualifier at GIO Stadium on Friday.

The clash comes less than a year after the Raiders controversially allowed Knight to walk from the nation’s capital despite having another 12 months on his deal.

“Sticky was pretty grounding for me at the time,” Knight told AAP.

Knight infamously sprayed Aeroguard in his mouth when he was arrested for drink-driving in early 2016, when he was with Manly.

He was handed a lifeline by the Sydney Roosters on a three-year deal but was released halfway through the first season to join Canberra.

Knight finally got his career going under Stuart last year, playing nine games.

However, it didn’t take long for him to be embroiled in more controversy, although this time it wasn’t any of his own wrongdoing.

Knight was inadvertently caught in the ugly cross-fire between then-Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold and incoming coach Wayne Bennett last year.

Seibold claimed Bennett, who had originally signed with the club for 2020, had already begun recruiting for 2019 with Knight a primary target.

Almost one year on and Bennett and Knight, teamed up at Redfern, are within 80 minutes of a grand final – and the 24-year-old has Stuart to thank.

“I was in a weird place in my career,” Knight said.

“I was doing a bit off the field and obviously had a good hard chat with Sticky and he put me in a better mindset.

“I probably turned myself around under him there.

“The opportunity came up to come back to Sydney and I’m grateful for Ricky letting me come back.”

Knight revealed battling homesickness in Canberra.

“It’s a different speed. Obviously I like the lifestyle of Sydney,” he said.

“Canberra was a challenge at first. I didn’t quite adapt that well but all the boys down there are real good blokes.

“That’s why it was real hard to walk but I think it was the best thing for me at the time.

“All the boys were supportive and so was Ricky.

“I’m at home in Sydney now, I couldn’t imagine anything better.

“I’m obviously happy for the (Raiders) boys there, they’re going well.

“We’ll see what happens (this) week.”