NRL 2023 Rabbitohs v Dolphins: Wayne Bennett believes Latrell Mitchell can be a champion five-eighth

Wayne Bennett knows Latrell Mitchell – so we should listen when he makes a big statement about the South Sydney superstar. But will this one become reality?

Wayne Bennett believes Latrell Mitchell has the ability to be a champion five-eighth and has hailed the flying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as the Dolphins’ version of the South Sydney superstar.

Bennett rates Mitchell among the most-gifted players he has coached, but their NRL worlds will collide on Thursday night when the Dolphins chase another big-name scalp against the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

It was at the hallowed ground where Bennett and Mitchell teamed up two years ago as South Sydney coach and star player in the Rabbitohs’ heartbreaking grand-final loss to the Panthers.

Now the pair are back at the home of Queensland rugby league as rivals, Bennett in charge of new expansion franchise the Dolphins, while Mitchell will look to torment the super coach after his hat-trick heroics last week against the Bulldogs.

Latrell Mitchell training ahead of Thursday night’s clash with the Dolphins. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mitchell with former coach Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Dylan Robinson

At 25, Mitchell is at the peak of his powers in the South Sydney No.1 jumper, but Bennett says the NSW Origin and Australia World Cup winner can eventually make a successful position switch into the frontline.

“I think Latrell is a great player,” Bennett said as his Dolphins attempt to muzzle Mitchell.

“He can play centres or fullback, when push comes to shove later in his life, he might be able to play five-eighth, but that’s another day and another matter.

“Latrell is a wonderful player, we all love watching him play.

“He makes your job easy (as a coach) because he has got so much going for him, he is very footy savvy and a good competitor.

“Latrell loves playing football. He likes being part of a team and makes a good contribution to the team.”

While Mitchell is on fire for Souths, fullback rival Tabuai-Fidow is proving just as dangerous for the Dolphins.

The ‘Hammer’ is the NRL’s equal leading tryscorer with eight after six rounds and Bennett sees shades of Latrell in speed machine Tabuai-Fidow, who has rocketed into Queensland Origin contention.

“Hammer is in the same boat (as Mitchell),” Bennett said.

“They are different types of players, but they are wonderfully skilled and competitive guys.

“He is in the Latrell Mitchell mould.

“They are good athletes and Hammer has a big motor on him, he is a pretty fit guy and he likes to compete out there and does it well.

“Because of his fitness levels, he keeps turning up and that’s what we see. If there’s a half break, he seems to get himself there.

“I don’t think they will think they are playing against each other tomorrow night.

“They will be trying to play for their teams, but it should be a good spectacle.”

Jason Demetriou and Bennett together in 2020. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Another fascinating narrative is the showdown between Bennett and his former long-time deputy Jason Demetriou, who was headhunted by the super coach at the Broncos before following him to Redfern.

Bennett revealed he had drawn up a masterplan for Demetriou to succeed him at the Broncos, but when he was sacked by Brisbane at the end of 2018, the pair joined forces at South Sydney.

Now, apprentice Demetriou faces off against master Bennett for the first time as head coaches.

“We still talk,” Bennett said of Demetriou.

“Jason had a good rapport with everybody (at the Broncos and Souths) and I didn’t see why that wouldn’t continue with him (as a head coach).

“We had a plan. It was my idea (for Demetriou to succeed Bennett at the Broncos).

“That was my plan for the Broncos, but they didn’t want to buy into that.

“Jason could have been coach of the Broncos, but that wasn’t what they wanted to do, so they went their way and Souths were keen to do something like that.

“I took the idea with me to Souths. I realised I was running out of time coaching-wise and the most successful clubs are the ones that have long-term coaches. They just had a coach that left and I came in and that was the next step.

“We enacted the plan after my first year at Souths to make sure it was all locked in and he knew what his future was.

“Jason knows his football really well, he is confident and I think they are the prerequisites to being a good coach.”