Latrell Mitchell inspiring Newcastle Knights young gun Mat Croker
This young rugby league player grew up watching Latrell Mitchell create magic on the pitch. Now he’s hoping to do the same at some stage this season.
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Prized Souths signing Latrell Mitchell has a long history of turning heads but one of his old fans is now hoping to make his own mark in the NRL.
Newcastle Knights youngster Mat Croker didn’t need to look far for inspiration as a kid growing up near Taree - he just went and watched Latrell Mitchell play with his brother Shaquai.
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The Knights development player is two years younger than the South Sydney Rabbitohs prized new signing but grew up watching the NRL talent hone his skills in local Taree competitions.
“I never got to play with him but I always used to watch him,” said Croker, who hails from an area which also produced Blues captain Boyd Cordner and Knights legend Danny Buderus.
“Latrell has an older brother Shaq and they were ridiculously talented.
“Everyone would go and watch them okay and win all the grand finals. They were amazing
“Now you see Latrell in the NRL and Origin and stuff and it’s a real inspiration to me and other people from the area.”
Also inspiring Croker on a journey he hopes leads to an NRL debut this season is his family.
Croker spent his youth watching his parents work seven days a week running their dairy farm at Nabiac, near Taree.
He watched them cut short days off to go home and milk cows and work hard to raise their family.
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It’s why hard work is so important to him and what he hopes will help him take the next step in his career.
“I grew up on a dairy farm, the family owned it until half way through last year and my father was fifth generation on the farm,” Croker said.
“With the drought and everything we ended up selling it and it was tough on the family but I saw the weight just lift off my parents shoulders.
“I look at my mother and father and I don’t think I will meet two people so determined and hardworking.
“It’s rubbed off on me.”
“I don’t want to let them down. I see how hard they work.
“Dreams don’t work unless you do. I think I heard that in a movie.”
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Originally published as Latrell Mitchell inspiring Newcastle Knights young gun Mat Croker