South Sydney Rabbitohs agree to extend Latrell Mitchell’s contract
Latrell Mitchell has copped it from all angles over a tough six months that have included torrid contract talks, fitness issues and an eventual move to Souths.
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South Sydney have agreed to grant Latrell Mitchell his contract extension, with the final figure to be settled once there is greater clarity on the funds available post the coronavirus pandemic.
The two-time premiership-winning former Rooster signed a one-year deal at Souths, but the club has a one-year option for 2021 in their favour.
Mitchell’s manager Matt Rose is adamant his star client’s future at Redfern is not in doubt as some reports have suggested.
Rose confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that he received a follow-up phone call on Tuesday stating Mitchell’s contract extension remains on track.
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He maintains nothing has changed following the initial phone call Rose received from Souths 3-4 weeks ago.
“They (Souths officials) phoned to say that they will be taking up the option, but they haven’t put the paperwork in yet because of everything going on with the competition shutdown,” Rose said.
“They are also waiting because no one can register contracts at the moment.”
Rose also stressed he has not reached out to Souths about Mitchell’s extension following the competition shutdown three weeks ago.
“Latrell’s extension isn’t a priority at the moment because the game is fighting for its survival,” he said.
“We want to be able to play the game first and that is the most important thing right now.
“That is why I haven’t made an issue of the extension because there are a lot of things going on in the game now.”
Rose also expressed his disappointment about continued false reports over Mitchell’s future.
He said the reported extension worth $800,000 is incorrect while he also understood that all NRL players will be forced to take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis to ensure the league's long-term survival.
“I want to make it really clear — the continued stories around Latrell that are made up is really disappointing, especially in the current climate,” he said.
“We are hoping to band together to get league back up and running before we worry about contracts and everything else.”
Rose confirmed Mitchell was in a positive mood about a possible competition return while training on his family’s farm in Taree on the mid-north NSW coast.
He said the Rabbitohs star is also revelling in life as a dad after the birth of his second child, a girl.
Mitchell is also working tirelessly on his fitness in a bid to return as strong and aerobically fit as he possibly can for the resumption of the 2020 competition.
He is training daily while trying to add variety to his routine with different physical activities and jobs around his family’s property.
“He has been doing a lot of training by himself. It is hard to do anything too serious until you get back in the team environment, but hopefully May 28 is the return date so we can all start playing footy again,” Rose said.
Mitchell is also determined to silence his critics and prove he can make a successful switch from the centres to fullback.
Channel 9 commentator and former Blues and Panthers coach Phil Gould even questioned Mitchell’s desire to play rugby league.
“He's not ready to play NRL football the way he is right at the moment and certainly not to play fullback,” Gould said.
“I'm worried about Latrell and his football and unless he's mentored in the right way by the right people through this period, it all could all come unravelling over the next 18 months, judging by what I'm seeing now.”
It is understood Mitchell is using these words as motivation as he trains during lockdown.
Originally published as South Sydney Rabbitohs agree to extend Latrell Mitchell’s contract