Latrell Mitchell talks about racism, revenge, the Roosters and retirement

Latrell Mitchell opens up on his private journal, zen-like approach to football, using Roosters fans’ abuse against them and his plans for the future.

Latrell Mitchell interview, Roosters, racism and retirement.

Latrell Mitchell has begun keeping a journal. At the end of each day he picks up a pen, opens his diary and pours his heart and soul onto the page. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Mitchell has found it a cathartic experience and plans to continue doing it when he returns from the World Cup.

The South Sydney and Kangaroos superstar was initially reluctant to play in the tournament but as he prepared for the semi-final against New Zealand this week, he acknowledged his decision to fly to England had been one of the best of his life.

He has rarely been seen with anything other than a smile on his face. He has been a breath of fresh air at training. He has become a powerful voice in the team room.

News Corp spent nearly 30 minutes in Mitchell’s company this week where he addressed a myriad of issues at the end of a long season.

Latrell Mitchell interview, Roosters, racism and retirement.

He talked about his new-found hobby of journaling. He discussed his desire to stay at South Sydney. He addressed the controversial issue of racism and his ongoing push to change attitudes.

He weighed in cautiously on his relationship with his former club the Sydney Roosters. He discussed his plans for life after rugby league.

“I am definitely in a great head space, probably the best I have been,” Mitchell said.

“I have learned to cope with a lot of things. I have been putting tools in there and fixing things when they come to me.

“This year I have been a rollercoaster and I have learned a lot. I still feel like I am a country boy from Taree. I know the person I want to be.”

THE JOURNAL

Mitchell has recently taken to keeping a diary in his car.

“I’ve been writing in it for my clothing business because I do my best thinking when I drive,” he said.

“I just write shit down when I drive. I thought I’d bring it on this trip and see how I go with it.”

And so it began, Mitchell would sit down at the end of the day and record his every move. He would write down what he had done and how he was feeling.

Over the entire trip, he has only missed one day. He even wrote in the diary when the team went on a three-day sojourn to Scotland, where they played golf and paraded themselves in fancy dress.

He would sign off each day with Trellmit, the moniker he has given himself.

Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Josh Addo-Carr in fancy dress during the Rugby League World Cup. Credit: Instagram.

“I’ll sit there and read it back to myself,” Mitchell said.

“Take some deep breaths and brush it. I would suggest it to a lot of the young fellas. It would be good for them.

“I might publish it as a book or something. Who knows? I was feeling like shit so I started writing. I have never, ever done it so I thought I would have a go.

“That is why I have been feeling a lot happier. Very powerful. I will write a few things I was grateful for like I will say I am grateful for Jack (Wighton) and Fox (Josh Addo-Carr) and the way they have spoken to me and kept me in line since I have been here.

“I have been writing a lot of things down when things didn’t go my way, how did I feel, the emotions, how I reacted.

“I will read it back to myself and go actually, I was stupid. There is so much funny shit in it.”

Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton hold up the Australian Aboriginal flag while representing the Kangaroos during the Rugby League World Cup. Credit: Instagram.

LIFETIME RABBITOH

Mitchell became eligible to sign with rival clubs on November 1 but spend some time with him and you get the feeling he would be more than happy to spend the rest of his career at South Sydney.

The club has been good for him and he has been good for them. Souths have already indicated they will make Mitchell an offer that reflects his value in the game. Translation: he will enter the rarefied million-dollar wage bracket.

Mitchell has immense respect for Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou and has no plans to walk away, his desire to stay only enhanced when his brother Shaquai signed a contract extension recently.

“I know Souths have put that in the back pocket because they know what job I have to do here,” Mitchell said.

Latrell Mitchell has no plans to leave the Rabbitohs. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I have sort of done the same thing. I still have 12 months and I hope Souths fans aren’t panicking too much. I am not panicking.

“I am definitely keen to stay where I am. We will talk and negotiate. My older brother has just signed for two years which is well deserved.

“He has worked really hard to get himself to achieve that and now it is time for him to stay persistent and earn himself a regular first grade spot.”

Asked whether he wanted to sign a lifetime deal with Souths, Mitchell laughed.

“Hopefully, if Russell [Crowe] throws in some cows I might stay,” he said.

RACISM

Mitchell has been the target for racism at times during his career but he believes the times are slowly changing. As for those who can’t be changed, Mitchell has some advice: Keep your thoughts to yourself.

“It’s getting better,” he said.

“It’s definitely on the right track. But obviously there’s a lot of fellas we won’t be able to change their minds.

“I’m content with that. I just want to change the next generation to make sure they’re culturally sensitive.

“That’s all I want and if you’re going to be racist, just say it to yourself. There’s no need to say it out loud.”

Mitchell has become a cultural beacon within the Australian team. He was the player who explained the cultural significance of the captain’s run training jersey to his teammates.

When they went to Scotland and wore fancy dress, Mitchell went out of his way to make sure the Kangaroos weren’t offending the locals.

“I made sure out of respect,” he said.

“That’s how I am. Every pub we went to I made sure if it was okay to do it. They said, ‘Yeah we love it’.

“I know myself ... I wouldn’t want someone doing that. I love the Scottish. The Vikings. The culture.

“It’s like me going to Queensland and asking permission to go fishing. It’s the same thing. It’s respect.

“My dad taught me that.”

THE ROOSTERS

Mitchell will play against some of his former teammates when the Kangaroos take on New Zealand in the semi-finals of the World Cup on Saturday morning (AEDT), among them Kiwis star Joey Manu.

His departure from the Roosters all those years ago still grates at some. He was the target for incessant booing when the sides played each other in the finals this season and Mitchell had the last laugh as South Sydney eliminated his former club from premiership contention.

When it was suggested that some people have probably forgotten he ever played for the club, Mitchell couldn’t help but have some fun at the Roosters’ expense.

“I think all the Roosters have forgotten I was there and what I have done for them,” he said.

“It is what it is. You have to move on with life. The opportunities I have created for myself since being at Souths have been second to none.

“It is life changing. It is just footy. I love footy. People have to go their own way to create opportunities for themselves.

Roosters fans enjoyed reminding Latrell Mitchell of this ugly shot on Joey Manu.

Roosters fans enjoyed reminding Latrell Mitchell of this ugly shot on Joey Manu.

“At the end of the day they are just an old teammate now. We will share those moments and we will always have that bond in a sense, or I feel like anyway.

“For now, you are not on my team, we’re not teammates. That is how we have always been. I would have loved to have ended better than what happened but it was the media hype that pushed me out of that place.

“A lot of things went the wrong way. Like I said, things happen for a reason.”

As for the booing, Mitchell harbours no grudge. He dismisses suggestions the abuse was racially motivated and insists he used the abuse to help fire the Rabbitohs to victory.

“I used that to my advantage as well,” Mitchell said.

“I was the calmest bloke in that game when we played them and that is why we won. I used you to my advantage and the Roosters took the bait.

“I was throwing the line out and I caught a big one.”

LIFE AFTER LEAGUE

When he was young and naive, Mitchell had a penchant for cars. It took some time but he saw the errors of his way. In recent years, he has channelled his money into property.

“We’re first generation farmers just having a crack,” he said.

“We have 30 head of cattle. We’ve got good angus stud. It’s been cool. Just bought my mum 50 acres in the town where they live.

“My dad always told me to have a plan B. I don’t want to work for anyone unless I have to work. That’s my thing.

“I’m in a great position now and I don’t just want to end up like most NRL players. There’s always this stigma. I want to be proud of my efforts and put my money where I want to put it and make sure it’s paying me back as well.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead in the future, but hopefully.”

Mitchell begins to check his watch and look for the exit. His time is valuable these days. He is rugby league’s biggest star and no subject has been off limits in the time he has spent with News Corp.

He only asks one thing in return.

“Use that wisely, please,” he said.

With that, he is off.