NRL 2022: Cronulla legend Tommy Bishop compares Latrell Mitchell to Sharks great Steve Rogers

One of the greatest Sharks of all has paid Latrell Mitchell the ultimate compliment, and also given an insight on how Cronulla can shut down the South Sydney superstar.

Tommy Bishop, one of the most fearless halfbacks to ever play rugby league, has called on Cronulla to silence Latrell Mitchell.

In a stunning acknowledgement by the former captain-coach of the Sharks’ 1973 grand final side, Bishop has compared Mitchell’s game-changing influence to that of the legendary Steve Rogers.

The Sharks greatest halfback believes that by going after Mitchell, the Sharks can beat South Sydney in a do-or-die elimination final at a sold-out Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

“He’s a player that could have played in my time,’’ Bishop said of Mitchell.

“He’s a terrific player, a good lad and if they can cut him down, keep him quiet, it will go a long way to winning for Cronulla.

Nicho Hynes celebrating a Sharks win with legendary Cronulla halfback Tommy Bishop. Picture: Cronulla Sharks

“He plays on the edge (of his emotions) a lot and that’s when he’s most dangerous.

“He’s got that little bit of aggression in him, but he’s got talent.

“He reminds me of Steve Rogers (former Test centre) in that he was a great defensive player as well.

“They both have and had the ability to beat their man one-on-one and one-on-two sometimes.

“When he gets the ball, you know there’s going to be a break of some description or something is going to happen and that was like Rogers.

“When you’re a great player, you become that player that other teams go after, they cut you down. Let’s hope the Sharks do the job on him.’’

TOUGH AS TOMMY

The pint-sized Bishop was the Great Britain captain when he arrived in Australia in 1969.

His influence as the Sharks defiant halfback in the 1973 grand final against Manly, one of the most brutal games of rugby league ever played, is legendary. The Manly players still claim Bishop started some of the many fights before letting his teak-tough British teammate Cliff Watson finish them.

Bishop recalls too, his battles with the great South Sydney sides of that era, claiming the same game-plan he asked of his players more than 40-years ago, remained relevant today.

“They’ll be tough to beat, Souths are pretty good,’’ Bishop said. “It would be nice if this was the grand final. We had some great battles when we played with the Rabbitohs having the likes of (John) Sattler, Ronnie Coote and John O‘Neill.

“When we played them, all I said to the players was, especially the forwards, don’t let them get over the top of you. That’s what the Cronulla forwards have to do on Saturday night.’’

SHARK ATTACK

These days, Bishop resides on the Sunshine Coast. He turns 83 next month and still watches every Sharks game that he can.

Earlier this season, in round 14 when the Warriors hosted the Sharks at Redcliffe, Bishop was invited into Cronulla‘s away team dressing room after their 38-16 victory.

“That was fantastic,” Bishop said. “It brought back memories.

“I went and stood as close to the number seven (Nicho Hynes) as I could.

Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell.

“The Sharks have played some great football this season and I reckon they’re going to win it.

“The coach is switched on and they’ve got some very good players.

“You could see a big change when he (Craig Fitzgibbon) came in and it’s been a very good change.

“They’ve got to start well on Saturday night. Get early points on the board and then battle it out.

“I certainly think with Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan, Wade Graham, they’re the key.

“Mainly because they’re all ball players as well as being good runners.’’

BISHOP BLACKBOOK

The hand of Bishop lives on at Cronulla.

Bishop famously helped lure Rogers back to the Shire when he was playing in Queensland as an 18-year-old before then doing the same with Rogers’ son Matt in the early 1990s.

Bishop’s son Gary, who watches every schoolboy carnival in Queensland, has worked as a talent scout up north for the Sharks over the past decade.
Gary has tipped the Sharks recruitment team into some of Cronulla’s best talent including Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Toby Rudolf and Braden Hamlin-Uele.

“It’s fantastic that the family is still so heavily connected to the Sharks,’’ Bishop said.

“I’m very proud of Gary. He’s got a good head on him and knows what he’s talking about.“He tells me how to do things now. Worst of all is that he’s always right.’’

Cronulla great Steve Rogers.

NEAT NICHO

However, the one player Bishop has known and rated highly for several seasons is Hynes, the Sharks halfback. Bishop laid eyes on the Cronulla half, long before his legion of fans.

“He played against my grandson (Alex) up here on the Sunshine Coast for a couple of years before he moved to Melbourne,” Bishop said.

“You could see in those games that he had talent.

“He’s a terrific player. The way he uses the ball is what has impressed me.

“The way he puts his teammates through gaps, he really looks after his outside man.

“Looking at the games he’s played, he could be the difference on Saturday.

“He’s very clever and I just hope he’s in form on the day.

“I’m a bit old now, but some may say I’m better looking.’’

Why Kennedy loves Latrell’s aggression

-Michael Carayannis

Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy will attempt to channel his inner Latrell Mitchell when the two face off in Saturday night’s do-or-die semi-final at Allianz Stadium.

Kennedy is the softly spoken Shark who is an underrated but vital cog in Cronulla’s spine. Mitchell is the headline-grabbing superstar who only has to blink to draw the ire of rival fans.

Kennedy loves everything about Mitchell’s game.

“I love watching him play,” Kennedy said. “He is very physical and I love that about his game. It reminds me of the Koori Knockouts where the games are a bit rougher and a few things get let go. I love how he brings it to the NRL.”

Head to head: Cronulla Sharks player Will Kennedy after training at PointsBet Stadium in Woolooware. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The pair have opposed either just twice when they have worn the respective No.1 jerseys. They have split the results with Kennedy’s Sharks tasting victory in round 20 in what was Kennedy’s final match of the regular season before being forced to undergo ankle surgery.

He said he wanted to channel his inner-Mitchell when the two sides collide on Saturday.

“I like to try and bring a bit of toughness to my game,” Kennedy said. “I will try and say hello to him after the game.

“He has star quality. I haven’t had a chance to play with him but during the indigenous All-Stars camp this year he came in and presented some jerseys.

“He is certainly someone we will be watching out for.”

As for Kennedy he feared his season was over the last time the Sharks played the Rabbitohs.

Will Kennedy loves Latrell Mitchell’s aggressive style of play. Picture: NRL Photos

He recovered in time to play the Cowboys in Cronulla’s golden-point thriller last Saturday.

“I thought after I got the call from the doctor I had to have surgery and I thought I was done for the year,” Kennedy said. “I spoke to our crew at the Sharks and they said I could make it back for the finals.

“They said hopefully I’d be back in six weeks. I was trying to make it back for the Knights game (in the final match of the regular season) but I didn’t want to push it.

“I had the surgery and was lucky the recovery went quick.

“The game against the Cowboys was one of the toughest I’ve played. It was so fast. I’m lucky I did all that training.”

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