Putting the stress of getting a new contract behind him has paid dividends for powerhouse South Sydney front-rower Ben Ross, who is hoping to ride a stretch of good form right through to the NRL finals series.

Ross was a strong performer in Souths' 47-18 win over the Raiders at Canberra Stadium on Sunday, scoring his first try in almost three years in the process.

Unsigned for 2012, Ross admitted feeling the heat about shoring up his future but decided it was best to concentrate on playing footy instead.

And it has paid dividends.

"It was really tough up until a few weeks ago," he said.

"And then I thought 'Stuff it. I'm just going to play football and if I get something then I get something.'

"I really hope I do because I love my footy at the moment and you can see it out there. I love Souths. I love the boys at Souths. If I get a contract then I'm going to take it somewhere."

Ross is getting back to the kind of form that saw him play off the bench in six State of Origin matches for Queensland - something that seemed a lifetime away after he broke his neck playing for Cronulla in 2009.

While Souths threw him a lifeline to join the club, Ross eventually debuting after sitting out 2010, they are yet to commit for 2012.

But for now Ross is determined just to enjoy his side's late season charge and the company of his teammates.

"The forwards are going really well at the moment. As long as we do our job we've got the boys like Sut (John Sutton) and Merro (Nathan Merritt) to really do something with the ball," he said.

"We've always believed in each other and we're always having fun but at the moment we're taking it game by game.

"A lot of people treat it as a business. We're just a group of guys having a heap of fun, no expectations on us. We're just going hell for leather and it's paying off."

And while Merritt scored three tries against the Raiders, taking his tally to eight in two weeks, Ross was simply glad to bag his first for the season ensuring the 110kg forward wouldn't be seen running somewhere in South Sydney territory naked.

"No nudie run," he said.

"I'm pretty happy to get that try out of the way. The boys were starting to give it to me this week."

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