SuperCoach NRL: Latrell Mitchell looms as player to avoid for Round 1

Latrell Mitchell’s South Sydney move will create chaos for some SuperCoaches and opportunity for others, with the star set to play at fullback in 2020.

Wilson Smith

2 min read

January 13, 2020 - 4:25PM

SuperCoach

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Latrell Mitchell’s move to the South Sydney Rabbitohs will send shockwaves through SuperCoach NRL, with the best centre from 2019 shaping as a player to avoid for Round One.

While Mitchell has proved a SuperCoach gun in seasons past, his output has largely been dependant on scoring tries and kicking goals, as he can struggle to inject himself into games.

With the move to South Sydney however, the top point scorer of the 2019 season looks set to lose goal kicking duties to half Adam Reynolds, who converted at 83 per cent in 2019, to Mitchell’s 75 per cent.

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Latrell Mitchell could hurt SuperCoaches if he doesn’t kick goals at the Rabbitohs. Phil Hillyard

Priced at a whopping $653,100 in SuperCoach 2020, Mitchell will take up a significant chunk of your salary cap, making the young star a risky proposition.

Mitchell could be heading into the season underdone, having not yet taken part in any NRL training this pre-season. Racing the clock to be fit for round one does not bode well for SuperCoaches having to shell out a lot of money for a player not at 100 per cent fitness.

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On the other hand, the CTW/FLB dual position status that Latrell picks up in 2020 could make him a real asset if he can reproduce his SuperCoach scoring of previous seasons. And while his workrate has been criticised in the past, his talent cannot be questioned and perhaps he will yet surprise SuperCoaches.

It is also worth noting that in 16 games playing at fullback in 2016, Mitchell scored 11 tries. And let’s not forget the mouth-watering prospect of Mitchell and Cody Walker linking up on the Rabbitohs’ deadly left edge.

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Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker could form a scary combination at the Rabbitohs. Picture: Jonathan Ng

CHEAPIE EMERGES AT ROOSTERS

There is a small blessing from Latrell’s move to Souths, with likely replacement Billy Smith shaping as an amazing cheapie option for SuperCoach, with Ryan Hall another option to come into the Roosters’ top 17.

Matt Ikuvalu is another possibility, after playing 10 games in 2019, while the Roosters could also opt to move Mitch Aubusson to centre and start Angus Crichton, which could be a huge win for SuperCoaches.

BIG LOSERS AT BUNNIES

Adam Doueihi seems like the biggest loser at the Rabbitohs from this move, after seemingly taking ownership of the fullback position, with nine games there in 2019. Doueihi could be set to join the likes of Corey Allan, Bryson Goodwin and Alex Johnston to fight over a bench spot, with the rest of the backline looking fairly settled.