Latrell Mitchell vs. Braith Anasta: South Sydney star fires up over NRL 360 criticism
South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell shirtfronted Braith Anasta at a fancy restaurant this week unhappy with the treatment he and his Rabbitohs have been copping on NRL 360. SEE WHAT HAPPENED
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Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell and Fox Sports NRL 360 host Braith Anasta have been involved in a heated argument outside a popular Surry Hills restaurant.
Anasta was quietly having dinner at Chin Chin after Wednesday night’s show when he received a tap on the shoulder … and turned around to see Mitchell, who had left a table where he was sitting with his wife and baby.
A fired-up Mitchell began complaining about Anasta’s coverage of his poor form for the last-placed Souths on NRL 360.
He then invited Anasta outside.
Not wanting a disturbance inside the restaurant, Anasta followed him outside.
The pair argued on the street for several minutes, both refusing to back down.
However, at no stage did it look like getting physical.
Anasta declined to comment when approached by this masthead.
He has, to his credit, has been forthright in his opinions on both Souths’ and Mitchell’s form this season as they have gone from what “should be top four every day of the week” to the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Having interviewed Mitchell on NRL 360 in Las Vegas ahead of the season opener in March, Anasta was full of praise for the Souths fullback.
“Latrell Mitchell was a breath of fresh air when we had him live on the show and, not only did he look fit and he looks in supreme shape, but just his mindset,” Anasta said at the time.
“He was laughing around having a good time and looked in a really good place, which is ominous signs for the opposition this year.
“If he continues with that attitude and trains the way that he seems to be training and looks the way that he did, Souths are going to have a big year.”
Mitchell drew condemnation for his expletive-ladened interview following the Rabbitohs’ 28-18 loss to the Broncos, but he escaped punishment from the NRL where the likes of Ricky Stuart and Brandon Smith have been sanctioned in the past for swearing.
It prompted Anasta to ask on NRL 360: “If it was another player in our game, (Penrith’s Jarome) Luai, would the NRL be sanctioning a meeting or would he be sanctioning him?”
Then, in Round 5, Mitchell was suspended for three weeks for an elbow to the head of the Warriors’ Shaun Johnson, an act that then-coach even Jason Demetriou branded “stupid”.
In his absence, diminutive fullback Jye Gray deputised for Mitchell, drawing praise for his running game, triggering debate around the game about the different style of fullback play Mitchell brings to the role.
Anasta has been critical of his work rate and decision making as a fullback.
“I’d like him to just get the ball off that kick-return and run it. That is the trigger,” Anasta said.
“If I’m his coach, (I’d say) ‘can you just catch it and run? Don’t look for your wingers, just run’.
“He can beat two or three defenders, he attracts two or three defenders and then it opens it up for everyone else.
“It frustrates me that he looks for that pass all the time.”
Last season, Anasta highlighted on the show, several instances he thought Mitchell had underperformed in a loss to Newcastle.
“Tell me another fullback in the game who stands still like that and doesn’t support up the middle of the ruck,” Anasta said. “Tell me whatever you want to tell me and he is not solely to blame, but he is the leader at that club. He is the barometer and once he starts making better decisions and wears his heart on his sleeve (they will get better).”
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