Latrell Mitchell’s big interview: Racism, Jack Wighton, State of Origin and more

Latrell Mitchell has revealed the role he played in Jack Wighton’s South Sydney switch and his emotional reaction to hearing his close mate was becoming a Rabbitoh.

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell says he won’t be silenced as an Indigenous role model and has declared he won’t “shut my mouth” until racism in Australian sport and society is wiped out.

In one of his most candid interviews, Mitchell opened up to News Corp on several hot button topics, including his recent racism saga, his role in Souths’ successful pursuit of Jack Wighton and his rumoured link to Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins.

The NSW Origin sensation also revealed one of his final driving forces in rugby league - to deliver a premiership to the Souths club that backed Mitchell after his shock departure from the Roosters in 2019.

Latrell Mitchell is one of the form players in the NRL.

MAGIC MITCHELL

Mitchell, who turns 26 next month, is in supreme form. Entering Magic Round, the Rabbitohs maestro had amassed 1217 metres, 52 tackle busts, six try assists and is just three four-pointers away from posting 100 career tries in the NRL.

But the Souths sensation is not satisfied and has a warning for hapless NRL opponents - he is not the finished article.

“You have to be optimistic in this game and I think there’s more in me,” he said.

“I’m only 25. I’m driven by my family and I’m representing them because they have sacrificed so much for me to do what I love and perform in the NRL.

“I don’t know if it’s the best I’ve played, you guys be the judge, I’m just playing footy and doing what I love.

“There seems to be a lot of critics, that’s for sure. Someone is always having a crack at me. Everyone thinks they know how to play rugby league, but I just do what I do and have fun.

“I am putting in the preparation every week and I’m really enjoying my football at the moment.

“I would be kicking myself in the backside if I wasn’t giving 100 per cent. I don’t want my family or myself to look back and wonder what I could have achieved. It’s one thing that keeps motivating me.”

Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs interacts with fans as he walks down the tunnel.

THE SLUR

Earlier this week, the NRL took action against the teenager who racially abused Mitchell at a game against the Panthers in March.

The offender was slapped with an indefinite ban from NRL games, ordered to apologise to Mitchell and undergo cultural awareness and respectful behaviour training.

The Souths fullback has no interest in smoking the peace pipe with the young fan, but hopes the episode is a trigger for NRL supporters attending games to take a zero-tolerance approach to racial slur.

“It looks like it’s been dealt with now,” Mitchell said.

“I left it to the NRL and the integrity unit, they’ve acted, and hopefully there’s a lesson from it.

“All I want out of this is that there’s a strong message to be sent to people who think racism is OK in our game and in society. It’s not. There should be repercussions and accountability.

“I’m also here to say that I hope this is a message to all rugby league fans sitting in the crowd that if there is racism, then call it out and feel it’s OK to do so.

“If you want to be racist, you keep your f***ing opinions to yourself.”

Artist Zoe Young with her image of Mitchell which was a finalist in this year’s Archibald awards. Picture: Supplied.

TACKLING RACISM

In terms of profile, Mitchell is the Michael Jordan of the NRL. Jason Demetriou’s Magic Round press conference was ambushed when screaming fans charged past a stunned Rabbitohs coach to get an autograph from Latrell.

Few Australian sports stars have Mitchell’s aura, power and gravitas and while that can make him an easy target, the Origin and Test champion says no amount of criticism will force him into his shell.

“That’s Australian culture isn’t it, the Tall Poppy (Syndrome) stuff?” Mitchell said.

“I can say this. I won’t be changing.

“A lot of people would love for me to stand in line and shut my mouth, but I won’t do that.

“I will always stand up for my heritage, for my culture and being a voice for all Australian kids.

“It’s about time we rubbed racism out of our game and out of our sports. Even in the AFL, the poor fellas cop it there.

“I will support anyone who gets racially abused or vilified.

“It’s all about us moving forward and growing as a game.

“Sport kept us alive during Covid and we should appreciate sports stars because we kept a lot of people in Australia sane while we were all locked up indoors.

“We should be grateful for the sports we have and the great entertainers in the NRL.”

Shaquai Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell of the Indigenous All Stars.

WOOING WIGHTON

The Rabbitohs recently pulled off a coup by poaching former Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton from the Raiders.

Wighton is one of Mitchell’s most trusted confidantes - the Indigenous All Stars teammates have won a World Cup and Origin series together - and Latrell believes the pair can be a dynamic duo at Redfern.

“To be honest, I almost cried when he said he was going to sign,” he said.

“I love Jack. We are very close.

“We have family ties so it’s something I was really passionate about, getting Jack to Souths and making sure he is comfortable fitting in.

“I honestly didn’t think he would consider it. But things happen and I was over the moon when he signed. I didn’t play the part some people think. I wish I could have brainwashed him, but it was honestly Jack’s call and it’s a massive pick up for us.

“I know what I can get out of Jack playing with him and I know the Rabbitohs can see what he can do for us. He will be part of our family next year and it’s a stepping stone in the right direction to winning a premiership.

Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell will be Souths teammates next year.

“But that’s for next year. I just want Jack to focus on his footy at the Raiders and finish on a good note there, give 100 per cent to Canberra, and be the good person and clubman that he is.

“Jack is one of my great mates. He is very loyal and the NRL can be a business. He is keen to build a legacy for himself and his family and it’s great that he wanted to get out of his comfort zone and try something new at Souths.”

RED-AND-GREEN DREAM

The Redfern area is synonymous with not only South Sydney, but the epicentre of Indigenous culture.

By the age of 22, Mitchell had won two titles at arch rivals the Roosters. Having scaled every summit in the code, Mitchell has reason to be complacent, but he is desperate to savour the red-and-green premiership that eluded the Rabbitohs two years ago.

Greg Inglis, the man to whom Mitchell was so often compared as a teenager, led South Sydney to their most recent premiership in 2014 in the No.1 jumper.

“To win a premiership in the red and green, it would be a dream,” Mitchell said.

“I’m not getting carried away. We’re in round 10, so there’s a long way to go. But if we eventually do it one day, it would be special to lift that NRL trophy.

Latrell Mitchell and Greg Inglis.

“The vibe around Souths is a special one. We are having fun and just enjoying our footy.

“I still talk to Greg Inglis now and then. He is busy running his (Goanna) Academy and I am there to help him with me and Cody Walker (Souths five-eighth) as ambassadors.

“It’s really enjoyable, we go to schools and communicate to the wider community and be able to engage kids and make sure they get to school. We talk to them about mental health which is a great factor in Indigenous communities and being able to break down that barrier.”

Asked if he battles his own mental demons, Mitchell said: “People don’t see everything of me. But I am mentally strong. I have a great connection with my network and the people around me. I don’t have too many in my circle and that’s the way to go about it.

“I have my farm and that’s my getaway.”

Latrell Mitchell catches a high ball at Blues training with Brad Fittler watching on.

FEELING BLUE

Mitchell missed last year’s Origin series due to injury, but is hellbent on reprising the sky-blue form that inspired NSW’s hatchet job on Queensland in 2021.

“I would love to be back there for NSW,” Mitchell said.

“It’s a conversation for me and ‘Freddy’ (coach Brad Fittler) to have and we will talk about it when Origin gets closer.

“I am a passionate New South Welshman and I just love holding that Origin trophy up. It’s what motivates me. I really enjoyed my footy in that 2021 series and it’s always hard watching Queensland win.

“I don’t like talking about them to be honest.”

Mitchell hopes to form a lethal NSW centre pairing with in-form Souths teammate Campbell Graham.

“Campbell has to be there this year,” he said. “He has to be the right centre. I don’t see what more he has to do. His efforts have been remarkable for us. He has shown everything to be a true blue and it will be a rude shock to me if he doesn’t get picked for NSW.”

Latrell Mitchell receives support from Wayne Bennett during his time coaching Souths.

WAYNE BENNETT

Mitchell was close to Wayne Bennett during their time at Souths. It is understood the Dolphins expressed interest in making Mitchell their marquee franchise player, but the Taree product ruled out reuniting with the supercoach at Redcliffe. In December, he signed a mega deal to remain at Souths until the end of 2027.

“I never considered the Dolphins,” he said.

“If there was interest from them, Wayne never spoke to me personally. He has great respect for Jason (Demetriou) and Souths, to be honest.

“I actually went to the Broncos as a kid to have a look at their club before I signed with the Roosters. If Wayne was at the Broncos at the time, maybe it could have been a different conversation, but they had another coach (Anthony Griffin) and I can’t be more content at Souths.

“Wayne is amazing. It’s his 900th game this week and he has built two new franchises with the Broncos and now the Dolphins. It’s a great achievement for the old fella and you can write a book about what he has done for the game.

“I wouldn’t have gone to Redcliffe. It’s too far from home ... unless Wayne had an aeroplane for me.”

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell’s big interview: Racism, Jack Wighton, State of Origin and more