By Christian Nicolussi and Dan Walsh
Latrell Mitchell has been backed to be a “world class No.6” as South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett weighs up whether to shift the Rabbitohs superstar into the halves for Saturday’s trip to Perth.
Bennett needs a new halves pairing after hamstring injuries to Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys. Walker is an outside chance of returning against the Bulldogs on Good Friday while Humphreys is facing up to a month on the sidelines.
Mitchell, who returned from a hamstring injury last Friday, finished the game against the Sydney Roosters at five-eighth and is expected to retain the role for the clash against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Jayden Sullivan will play halfback after English recruit Lewis Dodd, signed last year on $650,000 a season, had his hopes of an NRL debut dashed again by suspension.
Dodd is facing a 1-2 game ban for a crusher tackle while playing NSW Cup on Sunday, and would now have to successfully challenge the suspension to come into NRL calculations this week.
The 26-year-old was ruled out of a round one debut in similar circumstances for a high tackle in the pre-season Charity Shield.
Alex Johnston (ribs) is expected to return to the wing and Jye Gray is set to hold on to his position at fullback.
Souths winger Isaiah Tass, who was on the end of a lethal Mitchell cutout pass that sealed the tough comeback win against the Roosters, was excited by what Mitchell could do in the halves.
“He’s one of those generational players who can play anywhere on the field – wherever he plays, he will be a threat to the opposition; he will be a threat against the Cowboys,” Tass said.
Latrell Mitchell looks set to move to the No. 6 jerseyCredit: Getty Images
“If he plays No.6, he’ll be on the ball more, and that will only mean it opens up more opportunities for the people outside him.”
Former Souths coach Jason Demetriou said he always believed Mitchell would make the transition from fullback to the halves.
“He’s got some of the best ball play in the competition, and he’s a bigger body, so he can handle the defence in the front line, and it reduces his workload,” Demetriou said.
Cody Walker failed to finish last Friday’s game because of a hamstring twinge.Credit: Getty Images
“The other thing he’s got is a good long kick. Latrell can play anywhere, but I definitely think long term he will make a good No.6.
“Wayne is good at knowing what he has available to him, what his best 17 is, and then putting them in positions that suits the team. But I think he will be a world-class No.6.”
Souths finished Friday’s game without Walker, Humphreys and winger Mikaele Ravalawa as they posted their fourth win in five games.
They expect Walker to be out up to three weeks, but he has already told those close to him that he could be back next week for the Bulldogs’ clash, where more than 60,000 fans are tipped to pack Accor Stadium for the showdown with table-toppers Canterbury.
Humphreys is out a month, while Ravalawa is facing up to two months. Sullivan and Mitchell trained in the halves on Monday morning.
Injured recruit Josh Schuster swapped into five-eighth with Mitchell during training but is still several weeks away from an NRL return.
Meanwhile, St George Illawarra halfback Lachie Ilias is expected to survive the axe following the humiliating golden-point loss to Parramatta for Friday’s clash against the Gold Coast Titans – especially with the short turnaround.
Adam Reynolds will give himself until Thursday to shake off a hamstring injury to take the field against the Roosters on Friday. The Broncos captain felt a twinge when he took a dropout in the first half, and came from the field early in the second half after scoring an old-fashioned chip-and-chase try.
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