NRL star Latrell Mitchell dines with Cowboys officials in Townsville

Latrell Mitchell meets with Cowboys officials on a Townsville tour.

Latrell Mitchell meets with Cowboys officials including Laurence Lancini (left) at the Watermark in Townsville on Monday night. Picture: Evan Morgan

PREMIERSHIP-winning centre Latrell Mitchell has met with Cowboys officials in Townsville as NRL clubs circle the 22-year-old in hopes of gaining his signature for the 2020 season.

Mitchell flew to Townsville on Monday and while tight-lipped, a Cowboys spokesman confirmed the star was meeting with club officials.

Stream the 2019 Oceania Cup Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Director of football Peter Parr, chairman Laurence Lancini and coach Paul Green were spotted as the wantaway star was ushered into the back entrance of the Watermark for dinner on Monday night.

Latrell Mitchell celebrates following his team's win over the Storm in the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm at the SCG in Sydney, Saturday, September 28, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

The meeting comes after the Roosters pulled a two-year, $800,000-a-season contract extension for Mitchell from 2021.

He remains contracted to the Roosters for next season but it is understood the club would let him out of the final year of his contract for a financial return.

North Queensland have kept “significant space” aside in their salary cap, which was expected to be used to lure home NFL hopeful Valentine Holmes. It was understood Mitchell had expressed interest in relocating to Townsville. It was a move that paid off for Johnathan Thurston, who was believed to have been greeting Mitchell at the airport, but the Cowboys refuted the claim.

Mitchell is expected to also meet with Wests Tigers, who are also in the hunt for his services, with coach Michael Maguire and CEO Justin Pascoe recently visiting the representative player in his hometown of Taree.

Recently appointed Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis made no secret of the club’s pursuit of Mitchell.

“There’s no point in being coy,” Hagipantelis told Big Sports Breakfast.

“We want Latrell at the Tigers next year. There’s no doubt about that.”

The Cowboys can only afford to sign one of the superstar players and with Holmes’ NFL campaign set to end in January, he will have to make a decision soon as to whether he will continue his NFL dream.

Mitchell’s manager Wayde Rushton was contacted for comment, but didn’t return calls.

Originally published as NRL star Latrell Mitchell dines with Cowboys officials in Townsville