After three years with Canberra and Melbourne where he managed just 16 games in five years, the Leeton product has found a home at South Sydney the past four years.

But had some job applications he sent to Queensland business not been brushed, the 31-year-old may not have had walked into Rabbitohs HQ at all.

"Melbourne said they didn't have a spot for me going into 2018. Michael Maguire got sacked (as South Sydney coach), Anthony Seibold took over and he had been at Melbourne.

"Pyney (manager Shaun Pyne) knew him (Seibold) and gave him a call and asked if he'd be interested in me.

"At that stage I was talking to Queensland Cup teams and I'd applied for a few jobs in Brisbane, but wasn't getting anything.

"I applied to be a recreation officer at Redcliffe Council and a couple of others. I didn't even hear anything back so I must not have gone any good.

"When Seibs called me and said there was an opportunity with a 12-month contract I jumped at it.

"Four years later I'm playing a grand final. From that first season at Souths I felt like I'd found a home."

Nicholls has played 81 games in four seasons at Souths, including all 26 this year. After only starting one game before this season, he has been on the ground from the first minute for the last 13 games.

"At the start of the year I felt I had established myself in the NRL but I'd never really started. I'd only started one game and didn't play very well," he said.

"I set a bit of a goal to start a few more games this year. I felt like I was established and that was the next natural step.

"Even I've been a bit surprised by how well I've handled it."

Nothing has come easy for Nicholls. But he keeps churning out games simply because he's ultra reliable and keeps playing his role.

His no frills playing style is matched by a laconic nature off it.

Which means it came as no surprise he was uncomfortable at first when his 'GOAT' nickname stuck.

Previously best known as 'Nosey', Nicholls is sticking to his laidback nature and rolling with it.

He has only scored six tries in 109 games, and the nickname exploded further when he scored twice in the round 23 win over the Roosters.

"I'm clearly not the GOAT. At the beginning I was getting a bit embarrassed about it all," he said.

"With my personality, I don't mind flying under the radar. Especially in a team with so many superstars.

"It probably started a couple of years ago when I first came to the club and my wife and I laughed at it. A few of the guys used to get on Instagram and almost pay me out saying I was the GOAT, but also how was I still in the team?

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"A few fans picked up on it last year and it snowballed a little bit this season. I've noticed a few more fans messaging me and tagging me in posts.

"At the back end of the season it exploded a little bit. Score a few tries and people call you the GOAT."

People can relate to Nicholls because of his 'Average Joe' background.

A badly broken arm reduced his appearances for Canberra in 2013 to the first two games of the season after he was named the club's rookie of the year the season before.

He didn't get a look-in at all in 2014 and again in 2016 at Melbourne.

"It's probably because I've been a bit of a battler in my career," he said.

"I don't have a six-pack, I've got no hair and lost a couple of teeth.

"The fans probably can relate to me more than some of the other players. We can't all look like (teammate) Cam Murray."

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