Emerging superstar Jamal Idris put aside the distraction of what will undoubtedly be massive contract offers to lead Canterbury to a 28-19 victory over hapless South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

Fast becoming the most sought after off-contract player in the NRL, Idris won the first battle of a war with opposite number Greg Inglis that will surely include this year's State of Origin series.

Canterbury coach Kevin Moore hailed Idris as by far his side's best player as the Dogs ran down deficits in each half to make it two from two and consign the Bunnies to a winless season start.

The dreadlocked giant put his own scintillating start to 2011 down to the influence of his brother, Isaac Simon, a former Bulldogs lower grade player who was also a junior athletic star.

"I'm taking some words from my brother, he's 24 but he's one of the wisest people I know," Idris said.

"He's been in my ear a bit and he's been telling me it's all about footy, just play good footy and just perform.

"He just sort of let me go for a while, then he just thought, 'I'm going to step in now, take control' and he's doing a good job, keeping me in hand."

The timing couldn't be better for Idris, who is set to receive a formal offer from the Bulldogs within the next two weeks after strong interest from Newcastle and Gold Coast.

Chief executive Todd Greenberg said the 20-year-old had told him he wants to stay.

"I've taken him on his word and his word is he wants to stay," Greenberg said.

"We've told him we want him to stay. It's now up to us to try to make sure the commercial offer is strong enough to make sure that he does stay."

The battle between Idris and Inglis was always going to have top billing and, despite Inglis laying on a try for Souths fullback Rhys Wesser, the Canterbury star took the spoils when he glided past the Test star in the 36th minute for a four-pointer.

"I don't know who the try was on, it was just a try in general, I'm happy about that and everyone's happy when they score a try I guess," Idris said.

"Hopefully that's the start of things ... hopefully I can just keep a consistent game up."

Teenager Tim Lafai, called up to replace Josh Morris, scored the crucial try on his NRL debut, the 19-year-old crossing with eight minutes remaining after the Rabbitohs had been reduced to 12 men with the binning of Wesser.

Souths led 8-0 early and, after going to the break 12-8 down, led again at 18-12 ten minutes into the second half after the Dogs had been on the end of a tough call for passing off the ground.

It was back level at 18-18 when Wesser missed a tackle on Kris Keating in the 56th minute but Chris Sandow gave Souths a one-point buffer with a 67th minute field goal.

Lafai ensured the win before skipper Andrew Ryan bagged a late four-pointer.

Souths coach John Lang couldn't hide his frustration at the post-match press conference.

"We've again had a lead late in the game and blown it, and then let another try in for a bonus," he said.

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