Latrell Mitchell has no intention of walking away from rugby league
A friend of Latrell Mitchell has revealed the mindset of the South Sydney star after a tough start to the season — and it’s at odds with a Rabbitohs teammate’s call.
Rabbitohs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rabbitohs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Latrell Mitchell has no intention of walking away from rugby league, vowing to use the NRL shut down as motivation to regain full fitness and silence his critics upon competition resumption.
Mitchell’s friend, former Broncos and Warriors back Denan Kemp, has revealed the mindset of the South Sydney star after a tough start to the season.
The ex-Rooster has copped heavy scrutiny following his switch from the centres to fullback at the Rabbitohs.
Relive classic NRL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Mitchell produced below par performances in his opening two games for Souths in the No.1 jumper, prompting Channel 9 commentator and former Blues and Panthers coach Phil Gould to declare: “He's not ready to play NRL football the way he is right at the moment and certainly not to play fullback.
“I'm worried about Latrell and his football and unless he's mentored in the right way by the right people through this period, it all could all come unravelling over the next 18 months, judging by what I'm seeing now.”
Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook jumped to his teammate’s defence, warning that the two-time premiership-winner could turn his back on the game if people continued to criticise him.
In isolation with Matty Johns. Don’t miss his latest podcast where Matt is joined by his wife Trish and his two rugby league-playing sons Cooper and Jack.
Subscribe via iTunes or Spotify or listen below!
According to Kemp, though, Mitchell is determined to defy the doubters and reclaim his finest football.
“100 percent (Latrell will be back in the NRL),” said Kemp, who played 42 NRL games for Brisbane and the Warriors.
“Damien Cook said if you keep peppering the bloke he is going to want to bounce, but I don’t think that thought exists in Latrell’s head.
“I’ve been talking to him and he loves Wayne (Bennett), the players and he is happier at Souths than he has been in quite a while.
“This break is a terrible time for everyone but when it comes to just footy, I think it is exactly what Latrell needed after what he has been through in the past 12 months.
“He has now got time to get his mind and body right.
“The Rabbitohs also have time to readjust. Maybe they start him in the centres to get a bit of fitness and then move him to fullback.”
Kemp first reached out to Mitchell via social media and through his popular online show, Bloke in a Bar, where he interviews a host of current and former NRL players.
The pair have met at several boxing bouts in the past and now regularly engage in conversation about life and rugby league.
Kemp believes people in the game have short memories of what Mitchell can produce at his brilliant best.
“He was the top pointscorer last season, he was great in 2018,” he said.
“The same people that are saying he currently isn’t a first grader were the ones who were literally speechless by what he could do on a footy field.
“I’ve spoken to Latrell and his mindset is good.
“He is just trying to get through this (period) the best he can.
“Latrell is a fantastic young man. He is a 22-year-old young man dealing with pressure that we could not imagine.
“He is an intelligent young man and he understands that he is a superstar and what he does will make headlines.”
Kemp says there is another side to Mitchell as the star footballer.
“Before helping with the bushfires became mainstream, Latrell was on the front line on the north coast helping his family and others in the community,” he said.
“He was also buying milk and bread for people in his community just so they could get by.
“He could have had media there, but he just did it.
“What 22-year old people would go around and do that for their community? I wouldn’t have done that. I would have been too selfish at 22-years-old, but Latrell isn’t.”