Monday Buzz: Kelma Tuilagi’s touching act in George Jennings ACL injury, Latrell Mitchell return

There was one moment from Round 1 that stood out above all others for PHIL ROTHFIELD - and it should be plastered on the walls of all junior dressing rooms.

Kelma Tuilagi helps a stricken George Jennings from the field on Saturday. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

They say every picture is worth 1000 words. This one from CommBank Stadium on Saturday night tells you everything that is great about rugby league.

The sportsmanship, the compassion and the camaraderie.

Footy players might go into a furious battle every week but at the end of the day they are in it together.

Wests Tigers backrower Kelma Tuilagi looks a fine young player and an even better bloke.

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George Jennings helped off by opposition player Kelma Tuilagi (right).

When Storm winger George Jennings needed help to get off the field with an ACL tear, Tuilagi was there to lend his shoulder.

The Wests Tigers forward insists it was nothing special.

“I just saw he [Jennings] was struggling a little bit and needed an extra hand.” Tuilagi said, “I just wanted to make sure he was OK and was able to get off the field and to the medical staff safely.

“You never like to see a player hurt, no matter who they play for, and at the end of the day health and safety is the most important thing. I wish him a speedy recovery.”

This photo should seriously be plastered on the walls of all junior dressing rooms.

It is so inspiring … and a reminder to us all that, even in the heat of battle, you can look after each other. That player welfare means even more than two competition points.

TIME FOR LATRELL TO REPAY HUGE DEBT TO SOUTHS

Latrell Mitchell has a huge debt to repay the South Sydney Rabbitohs starting this week.

The superstar fullback returns in a monster Thursday night game against Melbourne Storm in Craig Bellamy’s 500th as an NRL coach at AAMI Park.

Latrell’s comeback is the story of the week. No player in the NRL will get as many newspaper centimetres, as much digital traffic or TV and radio airtime.

The Rabbitohs desperately need him back … but without the chip on his shoulder.

Cameron Murray might have the ‘C’ next to his name but the champion fullback is the one Souths players look up to more than anyone else.

Latrell Mitchell returns from suspension next week (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

His leadership is so crucial without Wayne Bennett, Adam Reynolds, Benji Marshall and Dane Gagai.

Souths have Storm, Roosters and Panthers over the next three weeks.

Storm have Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jesse Bromwich returning.

The problem is that Latrell has given the impression since the horrific tackle on Joey Manu in August last year that he was hard done by with an eight-game ban.

That it was the game’s fault, not his, because rugby league had gone too soft.

What he needs to understand is that the pain felt by all Rabbitohs fans since the incident has been as bad as what Joey Manu suffered on the night with the smashed cheekbone.

To put it bluntly, he cost the club a premiership.

Latrell Mitchell in a training stoush last week (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Now is the time to move on.

It was nice what we witnessed full-time on the TV cameras at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

I normally hate seeing players laughing and smiling after a loss with the opposition.

But in this case it was a glimpse that he has moved on. That he was happy ... and no more snarls.

You look at the way five-eighth Cody Walker was so down on his form against the Broncos.

How he, as much anyone else, needs a lift and a spark that only Latrell’s presence on the footy field will provide.

Latrell is an absolute superstar. No player in the NRL puts bums on seats or eyeballs on TVs like he can. Even Tom Turbo, James Tedesco or Nathan Cleary.

And no player is more important to the Rabbitohs’ premiership hopes.

Like last year … they can’t win the comp without him.