by He arrived in Redfern overweight, full of hurt niggles, in a cloud of negative headlines. But he was a hero, a representative player at state and national level and a talisman in the Indigenous community. South Sydney knew this man could conquer a golden era.
He had started as a teenager, won key positions as a centre-back but was destined to become a full-back. That’s where you park the prestige vehicles in the rugby league – and that’s why you pay top dollar. Sure enough, with No. 1 on his back, the horse became an excellent thoroughbred champion.
It wasn’t Latrell Mitchell, but Greg Inglis, who arrived at Souths in 2011, moved to fullback in 2012, and delivered a Premiership in 2014, the first in 43 years for a club that experienced so much potential. waste, terrible luck, lackluster management and terrible results on the pitch.
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Those same accusations are being brushed aside by the 2024 Rabbitohs who sit last on the NRL ladder after a 1-4 start that has coach Jason Demetriou’s job on a knife edge this weekend. And where is his No. 1 star? 1 Mitchell? Suspended again on a dangerous contact charge.
For the rusty members of the red and green machine, it’s a sad throwback to the bad days. South Sydney’s slump may have been their worst start to a season since 2008 but that year they went 0-7 before defeat and in 2006 they went 0-12 before defeat.
This is worse. The Souths side – the NRL’s most lethal attacking side – lacks spark and looks lonely. Their Origin players are clearly out of form and one, veteran hurler Damien Cook, has just dropped out. With an internal review underway and the season winding down, heads are being hunted. Mitchell’s melon, worth $875,000 a year, is highest above the parapet.
After Inglis delivered a fairytale 2014, Mitchell’s 2020 signing underpinned a decade of Rabbitohs dominance. The NRL’s brightest star and his oldest club, his father’s club at least, with the richest Indigenous history in the NRL. Mostly, Mitchell came to play goalie.
The fullbacks are the superstars of rugby league. The No. 1 jersey has power – and responsibility. 1. Sneaking behind the lines, spreading high kicks and making save tackles, they play at the back but lead their teams, reversing the attack arrow to burst through the line.
But Mitchell hasn’t delivered like Inglis did. He cops a lot for it too, and is regularly booed and jeered by other fans. But stats matter. In four seasons at the Roosters, he played 96 games and scored 65 tries. In the same time at Souths, only 64 games came out of injury and suspension out of 34 attempts.
Not only is he playing fewer games and producing fewer points with a reduced impact, Mitchell has not been there for Souths when they needed him most. He was injured one game short of the final in 2010 and was suspended for the 2023 final.
Meanwhile, Souths made the 2021 championship – their second decision in 50 years. But Mitchell was missing again. It cost him a week on the sidelines when he was watching with Joey Manu’s cheek. He cost his club much more. They won 14-12 that year thanks to a late Penrith interception, which left fans wondering if Mitchell’s magical ability could be the difference.
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Mitchell’s grubbiness did not disappear in 2024 but returned as quickly as his ability declined. Late hits, raised taxis, raised elbows, stray boots, fingers raked across the face and more. Only some of these have drawn charges, but all of them are causing concern for fans of the game.
Souths continue to defend their golden boy. Former coach Wayne Bennett let Mitchell skip training to chill on the farm and calls have been made for Demetriou to take his star’s lazy streak and ease his red haze by moving him closer to the action.
Now rumors of unrest within the team are rising. Allegations of favoritism for Mitchell led to club legend Sam Burgess walking out as assistant coach midway through the year and actor Alex Johnston recently saw red when Demetriou praised Mitchell’s support which his opponents insisted .
At Souths’ beleaguered headquarters this week, Mitchell apologized to his team for the “stupid things”. Where he would normally retreat to his farm, he vowed to stay in camp, adding to his game and helping others with theirs. At 26, after nine seasons at the top, maybe it’s time for Mitchell to show more depth. He has spread some magic at Souths, but his legacy is shaky.
Without Mitchell again, Demetriou has decided to bleed youth in a desperate bid to beat the Sharks and save Souths’ season (and his own job). Local junior Jye Gray – at 170cm the shortest player in NRL history – will wear the No 1 jersey. The pint-sized rookie has big boots to fill but, as Mitchell might remind him, won’t win the fame of rugby league games.
