Wests Tigers’ back up plan for Latrell Mitchell falls flat

Hours after pulling a $3.8 million offer to Latrell Mitchell, Wests Tigers made a discreet inquiry to sign another fullback option for 2020. But the club’s search for a Plan B goes on.

Robbie Farah of the Tigers tackles Scott Drinkwater of the Cowboys during the Round 20 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, Thursday, August 1, 2019. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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He was the young fullback Melbourne Storm initially identified as Billy Slater’s long term replacement.

But unfortunately for the Wests Tigers young gun Scott Drinkwater has no plans of becoming the back up option for Latrell Mitchell.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the Tigers made a discreet inquiry to check out Drinkwater’s potential availability on Thursday, just hours after the club pulled a $3.8 million offer to Mitchell.

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Scott Drinkwater has brushed off a Wests Tigers bid to lure him away from the Cowboys. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

It is believed Drinkwater indicated he would be staying at the Cowboys at this point to try and fight his way into the starting halves for next season.

Drinkwater joined the Cowboys this year from Melbourne with intentions to take over the No 1 jumper long term.

But Valentine Holmes’ recent return to the NRL had cast a huge shadow over Drinkwater’s future at the club.

Drinkwater actually started 2019 as the Storm’s first choice fullback before an early season injury left him third in line behind Jahrome Hughes and ultimately Ryan Papenhuyzen, which is why Drinkwater headed to the Cowboys.

Valentine Holmes training with the North Queensland Cowboys.

North Queensland coach Paul Green told The Daily Telegraph that there was no intention to release Drinkwater.

Drinkwater was actually rated the best young halfback in the country at schoolboy level after claiming the No 7 jumper for the 2015 Australian Schoolboys side, when Nathan Cleary was five-eighth.

While most view Jake Clifford as Michael Morgan’s most likely halves partner, Drinkwater certainly has the potential to make a strong case for a starting spot.

With Te Maire Martin’s future still unknown, Green said Drinkwater would add valuable depth and competition.

Coach of the North Queensland Cowboys Paul Green. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Chambers

“Val has only just got back to training as well so we still need to see where he is at and how he will handle the running load, because it is different to what he has been doing,” Green explained.

“And Drinky played a lot of halves growing up. As a kid he played more half than fullback. So given we still haven’t got a clearance on Te Maire, we need some depth there as well.”

The Tigers are understood to have drawn up a hit list of potential targets that also includes St George Illawarra young gun Zac Lomax while Matt Moylan’s name just won’t go away.

The club had also been linked to Josh Addo-Carr before the Storm shut down that speculation on Thursday.

Originally published as Wests Tigers’ back up plan for Latrell Mitchell falls flat