Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell vows to lift for grand final after missing win over Rabbitohs
AFTER being left helpless in the stands as the Roosters qualified for Sunday’s NRL decider, Latrell Mitchell is ready to repay the massive debt he says he owes his teammates for getting him there.
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AFTER being left helpless in the stands as the Sydney Roosters qualified for Sunday’s NRL grand final, Latrell Mitchell is ready to repay the massive debt he says he owes his teammates for getting him there.
Mitchell missed last weekend’s 12-4 win over South Sydney due to a crusher tackle suspension, and will not have played in more than a fortnight come kick-off on Sunday.
Still feeling those pangs of guilt over his ban, the blockbusting centre is hellbent on repaying his “brothers’” for leaving them short against the Rabbitohs.
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“I owe the boys a big one,” Mitchell told The Daily Telegraph. “There is that repayment there.
“I call them my brothers, the blokes in the team. I’m ready to go out and play for them.
“I felt like I couldn’t do anything last week, I couldn’t. To be back for this game, I’m relieved, I’m ready to go, I’m keen.
“Me and Dylan (Napa, also back from suspension) are coming back in this game. It was disappointing for myself and him. We exchanged words through the week and supported each other through the tough times.
“There was that support factor, being there for each other. It got us both through it. We really stayed positive for the boys.”
Mitchell has developed into one of the NRL’s most powerful strike weapons.
And the north coast product admitted his suspension had allowed him to freshen-up before the grand final.
“I sat there and watched the game last week and it was that hard but I knew the boys would get the job done. It was just good for the boys to turn up and get the win,” he said.
“I feel good now. I’ve been preparing for two weeks and I’m ready to go again and do it again.
“I’m here to play footy, have fun and score tries. I’m just happy to be back out there playing with a bunch of good blokes.
“There was some doubt there (that he’d played his final game of the season) but I had plenty of confidence in the boys to go out and rip in.”
“It would be great (to win) for the team, the club, the family, it’s just what we do it for. For myself, it’s a personal goal for myself. To get through this week, build for it, and go and get that win.”
Mitchell is now readying himself for a personal battle with controversial Storm centre Will Chambers.
The pair lined-up during Origin — Mitchell emerging a clear winner.
Season 2018 continues to get better for Mitchell, now an elite star.
“It’s been good having good people around me to help me get through what I need to do,” he said.
Last year’s short but contentious stint with Wyong — the Roosters’ feeder team — in the Intrust Super League seems a world away now for Mitchell.
Not that it was a subject Mitchell was keen to discuss.
“It’s in the past now — I’m not focused on that,” he said.
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