Bulldogs backrower Adam Elliott says Latrell Mitchell untroubled by contract saga
Canterbury’s Adam Elliott joined Latrell Mitchell and a group of NRL stars at an new indigenous leadership camp, and says the Roosters star’s ongoing contract saga was the furthest thing from their minds.
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Sydney Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell is as good with a handmade hunting spear in his hands as he is with a Steeden.
Canterbury forward Adam Elliott told The Daily Telegraph Mitchell was in high spirits during an indigenous leadership camp at Fingal Head on the NSW north coast, showing the way during a fishing expedition over the weekend.
“I didn’t catch any fish,” Elliott said with a laugh. “Latrell speared the stingray and Braidon Burns got the flathead with spears that we made. We cooked both of them up, we had a really nice meal. It was awesome to be able to make the spears then go out and use them how our ancestors did before us.”
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Mitchell has been under intense scrutiny as speculation over his playing future intensifies and his relationship with Roosters powerbrokers including coach Trent Robinson, and more recently with Blues coach Brad Fittler, dominates headlines.
Elliott said the 22-year old is finally in a better place mentally after a tough couple of months.
“He was in such a good head space and he’d been out on his family’s land for a while now, clearing his head.
“It has been a draining time for him and his family but for me to see him such a good head space I didn’t feel as though there was a need for me to go and speak to him about anything,” he said.
The Bulldogs backrower admitted he struggled to understand the intense interest in the playing futures of stars like Mitchell and Brisbane forward David Fifita.
“I find it mind blowing we talk about Latrell and blokes like David Fifita signing at clubs two years from now. The future is tomorrow at training. Honestly, for me unless someone is about to put pen to paper I don’t see why it’s a big talking point,” he said.
“Obviously the future for us is never guaranteed as footy players so if you can lock something up then it’s a massive bonus for you and your family.
“But I think David Fifita is only worried about turning up to training and not tearing his hamstring. Footy players are the type who live life in the moment, so when things get brought up about 2021 signings … it’s mind blowing it can take such a big part of people’s days like the Latrell saga.”
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Elliott and a host of NRL stars including Mitchell, South Sydney’s Burns, Cody Walker and James Roberts and Canberra’s Jack Wighton were specifically selected to take part in the leadership program designed by former indigenous players Dean Widders, George Rose and Preston Campbell.
“There was 11 or 12 of us up there, everyone who was invited turned up. It’s the first leadership group in the NRL of its kind and it’s something I’m really proud to be involved in,” Elliott said.
“It was about connecting to culture and country, learning about people who have lived there for generations and passed on their knowledge to us. It was eye opening to see there are seven-year olds that are connected to their culture more than blokes like myself.
“We barely spoke about football, we just connected as people and told stories about our culture. When we did talk about footy it was about what we can do to improve things for people in the NRL and spoke about the All Stars came and how that can be better.”