Latrell Mitchell pulls out of end-of-season Kangaroos Tests
Latrell Mitchell is reportedly set to give Mal Meninga some very bad news with the Kangaroos coach potentially set to miss two of his biggest stars.
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Latrell Mitchell is reportedly set to pull out of the Kangaroos’ end-of-season Tests.
The Rabbitohs superstar will be forced to undergo surgery after finishing the Rabbitohs’ disastrous season with a hand injury, News Corp reports.
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Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga is facing a potential double blow with Valentine Holmes also facing an integrity unit investigation.
Mitchell reportedly carried the injury for the final month of the season after injuring his hand in the Round 22 match against the Wests Tigers.
The Kangaroos play Samoa on October 14 in Townsville and the Kiwis on October 28 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Mitchell’s injury further explains his form slump in the run through to the finals where South Sydney’s 2023 campaign spectacularly fell off the rails.
The Rabbitohs were knocked out of finals contention by the Roosters in round 27 despite leading the NRL in round 11.
Mitchell was accused of being a “lazy footballer” last month after vision showed him failing to make tackles or chase up the ground in support of teammates.
“Everyone’s sugarcoating it but let’s be honest, the standards have dropped, the discipline is poor,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
“This is the first try. Have a look at this from Latrell Mitchell, your fullback. Doesn’t even run or get into second gear.
“This is the first three tries of the game. This is just little disciplinary errors.”
Mitchell has been a lightning rod for criticism — despite the entire club appearing to have fallen in a heap.
The club’s late collapse last week prompted extraordinary suggestions Mitchell needs to be moved to play in the centres.
Jack Wighton is moving to the club ahead of the 2024 season — with some calls suggesting the Raiders gun should replace Mitchell at fullback.
Anasta said moving Mitchell was “not the solution”.
“Whether people think he’s a centre or a fullback or vice versa, the solution is not moving him from fullback to centre,” Anasta said. “The team isn’t going to be any better with the players they’ve got there if they do that.
“It must be deep seated there. Coming first after round 11 and finishing the way they did … when they were coming first, everyone’s talking about this is the year of the rabbit.
“It’s not their foot ability that’s cost them, it’s whatever’s happening inside those four walls and psychologically the mindset of the players has just gone way off track.
“But I don’t think dramatic change is needed.”
Kangaroos train-on squad
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Cody Walker and Cameron Murray.
Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic.
Dragons: Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax
Bulldogs: Josh Addo-Carr
Eels: Reagan Campbell-Gillard and J’maine Hopgood
Cowboys: Reece Robson, Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Murray Taulagi
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Titans: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Originally published as Latrell Mitchell pulls out of end-of-season Kangaroos Tests
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