South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou says Latrell Mitchell ready to back up pre-season boasts

Latrell Mitchell has declared he’s chasing greatness and a Dally M Medal and his South Sydney coach had a positive response.

Latrell Mitchell is chasing greatness. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou “loves” how his superstar Latrell Mitchell openly declared he wants to be the best player in the NRL because putting heat on himself is how he brings out his best.

On the eve of the Rabbitohs’ NRL season-opening clash with Cronulla, Demetriou declared Mitchell was physically and mentally “as good as I’ve seen him” in an ominous sign for the competition.

In the build-up to round 1 Mitchell, who missed 10 games in 2022 because of a hamstring issue, said he was chasing “greatness” and wanted to add the Dally M Medal to his resume that includes NRL premierships, State of Origin series wins with NSW and last year’s World Cup.

Demetriou said he had no desire to “temper” Mitchell’s confident claims because he knows that’s key to the gun fullback’s power.

“Oh, I just love that,” Demetriou said of Mitchell’s ambition.

“You know when he says something he generally backs it up, and he does that because he wants to to own it. He wants to put some heat on himself because that‘s where he gets the best out of himself.

Latrell Mitchell wants to be the best. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“That’s where he gets his motivation from and we’ve had some good discussions around making sure that he is prepped well and he has some plan for how the season plays out, but he’s in great shape.

“Mentally he is good and physically he’s as good as I’ve seen him, so I’ve no doubt he’ll hit the ground running.”

Mitchell will also run out with his brother, Shaquai, who will start on the bench against the Sharks looking to build on the three games he played in 2022.

Demetriou said Shaquai had “done his job” in pre-season training and trials to earn his place in the team and was only going to get better.

“He’s fit and there’s been a lot of talk about his weight, but he’s a good weight now. He’s got some muscle on him,” he said.

Shaquai Mitchell has impressed in the pre-season. Picture: NRL Photos

“He looked very good in the trial and in the Charity Shield and he offers a different kind of threat for us.

“He’s a big body. He’s got a great offload game. He’s got some patchy light as well. We have probably not seen his skill level yet and that’ll grow the more fully he plays.”

South Sydney made last year’s preliminary final despite losing three of their opening four games and six of their first 11.

Demetriou, in his second year in charge, said the issues that plagued them early last year hadn’t resurfaced leading into the 2023 season, and he hoped for a better start.

“There were a lot of factors last year that probably influenced the first half of the season around injuries, a new coach, new captain,” he said.

“All those things take a little while to get going. That’s not there this year.

“It‘s an emotional rollercoaster and if you’re chasing your tail and you’re up and down all season, that takes its toll on you mentally as much as it does physically.

“You want to get off to a start and get your season off early.”