Latrell Mitchell move from fullback slammed as ‘absolute madness’

Latrell Mitchell’s reported move from fullback with South Sydney has been slammed, but may also point to some bigger issues for the club.

Latrell is still in the spotlight. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

The debate over Latrell Mitchell’s best position in South Sydney’s line up has continued for another night as the fallout from the Rabbitohs’ capitulation continues.

The Rabbitohs were knocked out of finals contention by the Roosters in round 27 despite leading the NRL in round 11.

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But it also sparked suggestions that Mitchell, who missed the Roosters match with suspension, could make a move into the centres or even the halves.

A club official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect his identity, told the Herald that Mitchell’s future at fullback would be asked of coach Demetriou in his end-of-season review.

While there was initially support, the likes of Phil Gould and Paul Gallen came out against the idea.

Speaking on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio said the initial suggestion came up after Alex McKinnon pondered how to get Mitchell more ball.

Gorden Tallis said that it didn’t make a lot of sense because fullbacks have “15-20 carries a game”.

“It was about getting him into the action, fullback would be the spot for him,” Tallis concluded.

Mitchell didn’t play in Friday’s loss. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley agreed.

“It would be absolute madness in my books,” he began.

“They’ve bought Jack Wighton to play centre — they’re paying $800,000. They’ve got Campbell Graham, they’ve got Isaiah Tass. And if you want to move Latrell there and Jack back at fullback, Jack’s 31.

“It would make absolutely no sense and it would show up that they’ve got their recruitment wrong because if you’re not buying Jack to play centre, you’re not buying him to play fullback.”

Braith 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.”

Latrell was good when he was on the field. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

What is Jack Wighton walking into? Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Crawley said there may be dramatic changes needed, as the Rabbitohs missing the finals is “the biggest disappointment, not this year, easily the last decade”.

He added the Sam Burgess blow up over the players’ standards which led to his exit from the club was an example of where the Rabbitohs got it wrong.

“They (the Rabbitohs) have got to face up to the fact that they’re hiding from the truth and confront the truth,” Crawley added.

Crawley argued that Mitchell’s move to fullback under Wayne Bennett clearly worked, but that the issue has come in 2023.

Tallis said that whichever position Mitchell plays, if he has his mind on the job, he’s proven he can be the best in the game.

Crawley argued that the situation in 2023 has turned the blowtorch on coach Jason Demetriou, with the reporter arguing he’ll be “the coach under the most pressure”.

2024 is shaping as huge for Demetriou. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Rabbitohs were the competition favourites when they sat on top of the ladder after round 11.

At that time, Souths were 8-3 and still had all three byes intact.

Since then, the Rabbitohs went four wins and nine losses to be eliminated the week before the finals in one of the more baffling collapses in history.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, coach Jason Demetriou was asked about the stunning fall from grace.

“I’ve got to hold my hands up there — I’m head coach, it’s on me to make sure we’re better,” he said.

“I could sit here and make excuses, it hurts, it’s a tough lesson to learn but I’ll learn it.”

Demetriou also confirmed the club would need a “deep review” into what went wrong.