South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell will go head to head with James Tedesco with the fullback duel to headline the blockbuster round three clash
South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell is expected to stay at fullback for the Rabbitohs clash with the arch-rival Sydney Roosters in the first round of the resumed NRL competition.
Rabbitohs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rabbitohs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There is more on offer for South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell than bragging rights when he takes on former side the Sydney Roosters in a Friday night season-restart blockbuster.
Mitchell will go head-to-head with reigning Dally M medallist and Roosters fullback James Tedesco when the arch rivals square off in a round three blockbuster clash.
With Tedesco owning the No.1 jumper at Bondi, Mitchell, who won back-to-back premierships playing at centre for the Tricolours, switched to the Redfern club to pursue his ambitions as a fullback.
After an underwhelming start to his career as an NRL fullback in the opening two games of the season back in March, round three’s Friday night fixture presents an opportunity for Mitchell to silence his naysayers.
Relive classic NRL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Rabbitohs teammate Alex Johnston revealed Mitchell is likely to retain his spot at the back even in the absence of centre James Roberts, who is taking time away from the game to deal with personal issues.
"The way we have been training at the moment, Latrell [Mitchell] is staying at fullback and Campbell [Graham] will go from left wing to right centre and I'll be on the wing. So I'm looking forward to starting and hopefully I can score some tries,” Johnston said.
Mitchell’s former Roosters teammate and close friend Luke Keary told The Daily Telegraph he is expecting the Rabbitohs superstar to be ‘fired up’ when he takes on his old side for the first time.
“Yes he will be, he definitely will be. I know what it’s like to play against your old team. You definitely want to get one over them and I know how competitive Latrell is … I reckon it will be fun playing against him, maybe not tackling him though,” Keary said.
Like Mitchell, Keary made the infamous move between the two clubs, adding his own chapters into the Book of Feuds', when he walked away from the Rabbitohs at the end of 2016 to join Trent Robinson’s Roosters.
Keary believes the player defections, which also include Angus Crichton’s switch from Redfern to Bondi in 2019, only enrich the rivalry between the longtime footballing enemies.
“Coming from South Sydney, you kind of look to see when [you play each other] every year. Everyone is going to talk it up because of the rivalry and that rivalry gets better and better when players keep swapping but it’s only a positive for our game. We don’t try not to buy into it too much but we have to give it a little bit of fuel,” Keary said.
While the fullback duel between Mitchell and Tedesco might be the headline act, fans can expect fireworks across the park.
Just ask South Sydney playmaker Cody Walker.
Last year’s volatile season opener between the two sides reached a flash point when Walker had a fiery encounter with Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk. Cronk took exception to Crichton being labelled a ‘traitor’ but it’s a sledge Walker denies ever making.
“I don’t mind it [the hostile environment], sometimes it can get you off you’re game … I think there is a little bit more in it when you play against the Roosters, they’re five minutes down the road, it’s the oldest rivalry in the game’s history and it’s always good to get up against those guys,” Walker said.