‘We’ll see’: Latrell Mitchell could make long-awaited move to centre
One of rugby league’s biggest stars could be set for a major positional switch in 2026 based on his early moves at pre-season training.
One of rugby league’s most destructive fullbacks could be set for a permanent move to left centre in 2026 after South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell completed an entire session there on Wednesday morning.
And if Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett bites the bullet and moves his high-profile star to centre then livewire Jye Gray can finally make the fullback spot his own after a breakout season that saw him rewarded with a lengthy contract extension.
Mitchell officially played two games at centre, two at five-eighth and seven at fullback during an injury-interrupted 2025 campaign, with the rep star setting up 12 tries from his 11 appearances.
The left edge is nothing new to Mitchell who won back-to-back titles there with the Roosters, and it would allow Bennett to back Gray in at fullback where he dazzled in 2025 with six games where he ran for more than 200 metres.
Nothing is set in stone for next year, but Wednesday’s session may provide an insight into which way the club is leaning, with centre freeing Mitchell up to deliver more explosive plays.
“We’ll see what happens,” teammate Cody Walker replied when asked about the fullback debate.
“We haven’t spoken about that internally as yet.
“The pre-season’s about getting fit and putting the work in now, and I’m sure after Christmas we’ll do more game-planning on where we want to play and how we want to play.
“We haven’t really touched the ball in the last couple of weeks.”
Where Mitchell plays remains up in the air, with Bennett also tasked with finding a long-term halves partner for Walker who had his own injury concerns last season.
There are several options including Jamie Humphreys who will miss the start of the season through suspension, while new recruit Jonah Glover is another one looking to stake his claim.
But the man under most pressure will be David Fifita who signed with Souths after a mixed stint on the Gold Coast where he looked unstoppable at times but also drew criticism for not always being a consistently dominant edge forward.
Fifita and Mitchell took part in a beach wrestling session that went viral on social media, with Walker backing the former representative forward to thrive at his new club.
“He’s been a wonderful addition to our club. He wants to work hard and he’s out there to win,” he said.
“As you could see in that beach wrestle, they went at it and it was a sight to see.
“He’s a rep player, he’s played State of Origin and has played at a decent level, so we’re just excited about having him at the club and seeing what he can bring to us.
“I’m not sure how you’d class who won it (the wrestle) because it’s sort of one where you have to do two or three in a row…but I think ‘Trell’ won that one.
“You can only go off what he produced on the footy field and he (Fifita) is putting in the work.
“He’s loud around the group. The greatest indication of wanting to win is his desire, the work and the effort he’s putting in has been outstanding for us.”
Originally published as ‘We’ll see’: Latrell Mitchell could make long-awaited move to centre
