Phil Gould’s scathing response to Latrell Mitchell rumour

Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has given a surprising response to whispers Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell could be on the move.

Jack Wighton (left) and Latrell Mitchell, seen here in the 2021 Origin series, have a checkered history together on and off the field.

Phil Gould has dismissed the speculation that has erupted around Latrell Mitchell’s future at South Sydney.

The Bulldogs football operations boss on Monday night said it is nobody’s business what coach Jason Demtriou decides is the best position for the superstar.

Whispers began to swirl on Monday that Rabbitohs figures believe Jack Wighton’s arrival is a perfect opportunity to put Mitchell back in the centres after a disappointing, injury-plagued season.

Demetriou’s side was top of the NRL ladder after 11 rounds only to miss the top eight after losing to bitter rivals the Roosters in Round 27.

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And according to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, it could trigger a positional shake-up, despite Demetriou reportedly believing Mitchell’s best position is still fullback.

“I don’t think it’s anyone’s business bar the coach, I don’t know who in the club would be questioning where the coach plays him or why suddenly after this game (against the Roosters),” Gould said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“I mean, they lost on the weekend because Latrell didn’t play, had he played it could’ve been a very different story. But arguing right now about where Latrell plays next year I don’t think is a major part of the review whatsoever.

“Certainly there are other factors there that a far more important for South Sydney and why it fell away the way it did, without questioning where Latrell plays next year. That’s not the solution to their issues.”

Latrell Mitchell. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Former NSW State of Origin captain Paul Gallen also rubbished the push for Mitchell to be moved.

“I don’t understand where this talk about Latrell at fullback has come from. Latrell as a fullback has never changed the way he plays, he’s always been able to do things other people just can’t do on the football field, we know that,” he said.

“He’s never been an effort player, he’s never been the player backing up the middle, he’s never been the player making 20 runs a game for 200 metres, he’s never been that Dylan Edwards, James Tedesco type player.

“He’s always just had that x-factor, and can do things other players can’t do.”

Jack Wighton (left) and Latrell Mitchell, seen here in the 2021 Origin series, have a checkered history together on and off the field.

It comes after NRL great James Graham suggested Wighton could even move into the halves as he makes the switch to South Sydney in 2024.

“Looking and observing South Sydney performances this year, they play with an attitude that they feel they need to score on every play,” he said on Triple M

“They don’t seem to exercise patience or build into a set of six. The completion rates have been horrible. Even against the Roosters there were times when they pushed the pass too much

“They relied on their talent too much. They just approached games with ‘we’ve got this, we will just wait until we need to’. Then they ran out of time.

“It wouldn’t surprise me to see a change of position. We might see Wighton be the halves partner to Cody Walker.

“Cody goes to seven. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them at least explore that option.”

Graham was then questioned on what that would mean for incumbent halfback Lachlan Illias.

“What happens to Isaiah Tass who has been sensational,” he responded.

“Good quality first grader who is contracted for next year. He’s too good to be playing reserves.

“The very fact that he hasn’t gone to a different club, I think they would have said to him we are going to experiment with Jack Wighton, Cody Walker in the halves combination.”