Paul Gallen says Latrell Mitchell should ‘take one for the team’

NRL veteran Paul Gallen has joined the chorus of critics suggesting that Souths star Latrell Mitchell “take one for the team” as the Rabbitohs go through hell.

Gray’s debut performance led to an outpouring of support from fans for him to maintain the fullback role

NRL veteran Paul Gallen has joined the chorus of critics suggesting that Souths star Latrell Mitchell move to the centre position, allowing Jye Gray to continue as fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

In his debut game for the Rabbitohs against the Sharks, the 20-year-old Gray performed well, notching 172 metres from 15 carries, seven tackle breaks, an offload, and 54 post-contact metres.

Gray’s debut performance led to an outpouring of support from fans for him to maintain the fullback role even after Mitchell, regarded as one of the game’s most dangerous men in the No. 1 jersey, returns from his three-game suspension.

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But Mitchell has faced ongoing scrutiny for his perceived lack of effort, especially in defence and positional play, since moving from the Sydney Roosters to the Rabbitohs and switching from centre to fullback.

The idea of switching Mitchell back to centre has been floated by pundits over the past 18 months, and has now been intensified by Gray’s emergence as a more thancompetent fullback.

Gallen believes that having Gray as fullback and Mitchell as a potential backup or as a centre could benefit the team’s overall performance and provide strategic flexibility as the club fights to scrape itself off the bottom of the ladder.

But potential move for Mitchell to centre create a butterfly effect, particularly affecting star centre Jack Wighton, who may need to switch to the right side to accommodate the change.

“With Souths where they are at the moment, they need a lot of effort and that’s one thing this kid (Gray) will bring. I think for them and the team and even for Latrell, it’s a good idea for when he comes back,” Gallen wrote in a column for Wide World of Sports.

“When he does run into form slumps, you have a ready-made replacement in Latrell and you can put the kid back to reserve grade and give him a week off and bring him back. I think that’s the best option for the Bunnies going forward.”

Mitchell has faced ongoing scrutiny for his perceived lack of effort, especially in defence and positional play, since moving from the Sydney Roosters to the Rabbitohs and switching from centre to fullback.

Gray’s debut performance led to an outpouring of support from fans for him to maintain the fullback role.

Gallen said Mitchell’s strengths lie in his unpredictability and could ultimately provide more value for the struggling club in the centres.

“Latrell is a deadset freak, he is a superstar, but we know that within his game, there’s not a lot of effort plays. He’s not like a Dylan Edwards or James Tedesco or Joey Manu, he’s not taking 20 or 30 hit-ups,” he wrote.

“He is a freak and is one of those guys who can create something out of nothing, but he will play a 10/10 game one week and then will be average for the next two or three.

“He’s like a Ferrari - you keep it in the garage and bring it out on special occasions, that’s what he is like.

“With the fullbacks in the game at the moment and with Souths where they are at the moment, they need a lot of effort and that’s one thing this kid will bring. I think for them and the team and even for Latrell, it’s a good idea for when he comes back.”

It came after Mitchell was nowhere to be seen as NSW coach Michael Maguire held a secret meeting with Blues stars this week.

Gallen said Mitchell’s strengths lie in his unpredictability and could ultimately provide more value for the struggling club in the centres.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph with the newspaper reporting Mitchell and Rabbitohs teammates Damien Cook and Cody Walker were among the most notable absentees when Maguire sat down with incumbent and prospective NSW players.

With South Sydney’s season in crisis it looks increasingly likely the Bunnies will not be represented in Maguire’s Blues team for the 2024 State of Origin series opener against Queensland on June 5.

News Corp first reported Maguire, ahead of his first series in-charge, met with a large group of Sydney-based players, including some potential Origin debutants and left-field selections.

The talented fullback made an apology to his teammates behind closed doors last week after a series of on-field incidents.

Cook was overlooked for the season opener in 2023, but played the final two games for former coach Brad Fittler, including the Blues’ Game 3 win in Sydney.

Walker was also picked in the series finale, replacing Jarome Luai.

South Sydney has a bye in Round 7, and it appears likely coach Demetriou’s job will again be on the line when they face the Storm in Melbourne on Anzac Day.