Andrew Johns reveals technique error that cost Latrell Mitchell

LATRELL Mitchell committed a cardinal sin of rugby league — twice. Both errors were the result of poor technique, according to Andrew Johns.

It was a tough night at the office for Latrell Mitchell.

LATRELL Mitchell committed a cardinal sin of rugby league — twice — as the Roosters bowed out of the finals race.

The Roosters young gun sent two kick-offs out on the full, with rugby league great Andrew Johns saying both were the result of the same technique error.

“I don’t know how you get this wrong,” Johns told the Sunday Footy Show.

“Look at his technique, he’s laying the ball down (on the tee). When you’re kicking off you stand the ball high and bend the ball backwards so you get under it and get hang time.”

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It was a tough night at the office for Latrell Mitchell.

Mitchell was billed as a Roosters gamebreaker but ended up helping the Cowboys into the grand final with a forgettable display after being shunted to the wing in a surprise late reshuffle from coach Trent Robinson.

Robinson opted to instead play Daniel Tupou from the bench, with Ryan Matterson promoted to the centres in the 29-16 defeat at Allianz Stadium.

After lighting up week one of the finals with a breathtaking solo effort to earn the Roosters a thrilling last-gasp victory over Brisbane, Mitchell’s mistake-riddled performance left the 20-year-old gutted.

Dubbed the next Greg Inglis, he dragged the Roosters into the contest with their opening try just before halftime, when he cashed in on a Luke Keary crossfield bomb after his side trailed 8-0.

The try atoned for a penalty he conceded for sending a kick-off over the dead-ball line, allowing North Queensland to cross for a six-pointer the very next set.

The game started well for Latrell Mitchell when he scored a try.

Mitchell’s obstruction of Cowboys centre Kyle Linnett also forced the bunker to overrule a try to Matterson early in the second half.

Completing his unhappy night, Mitchell fired another kick-off dead late on as the Roosters desperately tried to reel in the Cowboys.

“It’s his first semi-finals series,” said Robinson.

“He plucked that one from nowhere to score the try and it was a pretty big learning experience for a first semi-finals.

“He wasn’t the reason we lost tonight. As a collective group, we weren’t good enough in controlling our game.”

Robinson also defended his tinkering of the Roosters’ starting line-up, chiefly Matterson’s inclusion, after coming under fire on social media.

“We’ve been pretty strong there (in the centres) defensively for seven weeks,” he said.

“We kept the rhythm then. Matto has been doing a really good job in that position.

“We ended up conceding a couple of tries there tonight, which we haven’t in the past.”

— with AAP