‘Not an idiot’: Wayne’s big plan for Latrell Mitchell

Wayne Bennett has shared how he will handle Latrell Mitchell just days after reports he let players have it when addressing them for the first time.

Latrell Mitchell and Wayne Bennett. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.

Wayne Bennett has shared his plans on how he will handle Latrell Mitchell after a nightmare 2024 season.

The veteran coach has wasted no time since arriving back in Sydney and has already made some big recruitment calls, despite not officially starting work until November 1.

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Bennett’s biggest and most critical assignment will be getting Mitchell back to his best after the mercurial fullback played just 11 games in 2024.

Mitchell was hit with a combined $120,000 in fines by the Rabbitohs and the NRL this year after the former Roosters star was photographed with a white substance.

The final kick in the teeth to his miserable year was a ruling from the NRL that he will have to serve a one-match ban next season.

The Rabbitohs won just seven games in 2024 — and the club’s only desperate hopes sudden improvement are Bennett and the 27-year-old.

The seven-time premiership coach has told News Corp exactly how he will mentor the NSW State of Origin star.

Latrell Mitchell and Wayne Bennett. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said.

“I won’t be changing Latrell. I will just let him play, that’s what he does best.”

He guaranteed that Mitchell will be the club’s fullback next year with promising talent Jye Gray set for another role.

“Latrell is fine, he doesn’t need surgery,” he said.

“He is all good, so he’ll start pre-season with everyone else.

“I don’t know much about Jye Gray, I haven’t worked with him, so I will see what he’s got and what he doesn’t have, but Latrell will be our fullback.

“I’m looking forward to reuniting with Latrell and all the guys down there.

“It’s a great club.”

The other big project on Bennett’s plate is bringing Josh Schuster back from the NRL scrapheap.

The former Manly star has signed with the Rabbitohs on a bargain, one-year deal, which has potential to be a brilliant gamble by the super coach.

Damien Cook farewells Latrell Mitchell. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

Earlier this year, the Sea Eagles axed the youngster, who was reportedly paid out close to $1m to leave the club.

Schuster was on an $800,000 a year, three-year deal with the Sea Eagles, having extended in 2023.

However, Schuster battled weigh and fitness issues, including catching chickenpox and suffering a broken finger and a calf injury in the pre-season.

This season, he played just four games of NSW Cup and didn’t add to his 50-game NRL tally before being cut loose by the club in April.

He then sat out the remainder of the season to get himself in the best physical and mental shape possible for a 2025 comeback season.

The deal was labelled “the worst deal ever done by a footy club” by Braith Anasta on NRL 360 earlier in the year.

But the Rabbitohs are confident Schuster’s best years are ahead of him.

“We think a comeback to the NRL with our club will be just what Josh needs to get his career back on track,” Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said.

“We’re confident that he can use this second opportunity at NRL level, at a new club with new coaches, new teammates and renewed expectations, to resume his NRL career and achieve his and the team’s goals.

“We’re looking forward to Josh joining us for the 2025 pre-season as he gets ready for a new start next season in the red and green of South Sydney.”

While it may be a risk, if any coach is going to turn Schuster around, it’s Bennett.

You can read Wayne Bennett’s full interview with News Corp here

Originally published as ‘Not an idiot’: Wayne’s big plan for Latrell Mitchell