Blake Taaffe got tired of waiting in Latrell Mitchell's shadow, but the hopeful Canterbury fullback will not speak ill of his Indigenous peer.

Not just now after ongoing criticism targeting South Sydney's talisman, but also of his beloved club for failing to offer the 24-year-old a new NRL deal.

Even more so should the move to join the beleaguered Bulldogs pay off.

"Obviously, it's a business at the end of the day – it's how it works," Taaffe said.

"I completely understand and there are no hard feelings."

The new contract at Belmore was signed last Friday after Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo chased down the pacy Taaffe on hearing his playing status without a club.

The one-time La Perouse junior has set his sails west with his DNA more Rabbitohs in just three years than decade-long favourite son Adam Reynolds, who once grew up around the corner from Redfern Oval throwing dummy passes on his own.

"Souths runs deep in our bloodlines," Taaffe said.

Taaffe's grandfather Kevin 'Lummy' Longbottom won a NSWRL flag for the Rabbitohs in 1967.

Also a fullback, but of a different era, Longbottom was reportedly "twice the size" of his grandson, Taaffe's father, Darren, an accomplished rugby league player at La Perouse, once said after Souths first signed his son.

But also, in reality, his father-in-law was "10 times" slower than Taaffe.

The pedigree that had Taaffe also shut the door on a short-lived junior career at the Sydney Roosters when he briefly lived in their Central Coast zone doesn't stop at Longbottom.

A great uncle of his, Keith McCraw, currently has been president of the all-powerful Souths Juniors club, who personally oversaw a handful of Bunnies' first-graders back in their youth that included Taaffe come through Souths' development teams.

While in fact, cousin Josh Cook, who grew up in the same Aboriginal Community, also took the same path first after signing for Souths, and then heading to Canterbury.

That ended sadly without registering an NRL appearance at either club, but at least Taaffe's time at Redfern comes with a final parting gift.

He is the only player to feature in Souths' last four deciders across three levels.

The Yuin man turned out first for the Jersey Flegg premiership of 2019, then the NRL grand final loss of 2021 before triumphing for this year's NSW Cup title, followed by the NRL State Championship win.

The last two back-to-back appearances only came about due to Mitchell's presence in the NRL side too often, despite still missing 12 matches himself this season that left Taaffe stranded on the sidelines.

The previous grand final spot in the Rabbitohs' run-on side that they eventually lost to Penrith only happened over Mitchell's ill-discipline and consequential suspension.

Taaffe, who has played at fullback 20 times and off the bench the other 10 times, has made no secret of his desire to claim a No.1 jersey.

Souths' position to back Mitchell in that role and subsequently axe Taaffe made the move easier.

But not so easy on two fronts.

"I'm stuck behind Trell here," Taaffe said.

"I'm also aware of the scenario and challenge."

The Bulldogs signed Panthers centre Stephen Crichton before Penrith captured a third straight premiership for its departing superstar.

But Crichton, who is representing Samoa at the Pacific Championships to play at five-eighth, sounded out a surprise intention to move to fullback once he arrives.

"That was definitely brought up at the time," Taaffe said.

"I was never told I would be guaranteed a spot and my goal is to come back in the pre-season and prove my worth."