Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell to face off in Storm clash with Rabbitohs

There was a time when Josh Addo-Carr’s Instagram page was littered with pictures of himself and Latrell Mitchell.

Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr of the Storm runs with the ball during a Storm training session at AAMI Park on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

There was a time when Josh Addo-Carr’s Instagram page was littered with pictures of himself and Latrell Mitchell. Dirt bikes, fishing, just two blokes enjoying life and the land.

Not any more. Addo-Carr, seemingly stung by the outrage resulting from images and video he posted of himself and Mitchell together at the latter’s property during the height of COVID-19, has taken to his social media sites with a scalpel.

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Only a handful of pictures now grace the page of the Melbourne Storm winger, as he and Mitchell prepare to cross paths for the first time since they were sanctioned by the NRL for breaching social distancing rules.

Both have lodged appeals against their fines and the NRL is yet to render a verdict as the two players prepare to lock horns at AAMI Park on Friday night. That NRL decision could be only days away.

They may come across each other much more in the future if the rugby league rumour mill is to be believed. Addo-Carr still covets a return to Sydney next year and Souths — the club of his childhood — are rumoured to be his preference.

Addo-Carr played for Matraville Sports High School as a teenager and spent his junior league days at La Perouse and Moore Park, before he graduated to the Rabbitohs’ SG Ball side.

Some pieces would have to be moved for 24-year-old Addo-Carr to get his wish. The Rabbitohs are hard-pressed for salary cap space as it stands, having taken up Mitchell’s option, extended the contract of Cameron Murray and also tabled a new deal for gun centre Campbell Graham.

Talks over Addo-Carr’s future are also being held up by a dispute over his management. Prominent manager Chris Orr sent out a list of off-contract players recently that contained Addo-Carr’s name with a link to his highlights. Clubs have been warned that Addo-Carr still has a management agreement with Orr’s company. Addo-Carr wants out of that deal, convoluting the entire process.

Meanwhile, Mitchell and his teammates will arrive in Melbourne desperate to avoid another loss, having been beaten by Sydney Roosters at their last start.

Coach Wayne Bennett has made changes, the most significant his decision to dispense with his plan to play forward Cameron Murray as a wide-running backrower. Murray will instead return to the middle of the field for the game against the Storm.

“I think at the moment it’s the best thing for us as a team, he certainly handles the edge well and that sort of stuff but we probably need what he gives in the middle,” Bennett said.

That decision means that Bennett has called young forward Keaon Koloamatangi onto the bench as cover for Ethan Lowe, who has slotted into the starting side.

Koloamatangi and Murray came through the ranks at Souths together.

“His journey has been more different to Cam’s with a few weight and attitude problems but he’s been really good since I’ve been here for 12-18 months and has got himself in good shape,” Bennett said.

“He’s got good skills and is quite a player. For him, it’s just the start of a journey but it will take a long time until we see the best of him. (But) there’s certainly a player in that body.”

Bennett has adopted the patient approach with centre James Roberts, who trained this week but will be wrapped in cotton wool for another week yet.

The NSW centre is only two weeks removed from his visit to a rehab centre and Bennett wants to make sure he is ready for the demands of the NRL before thrusting him back into the side.

“Looking good and being match fit doesn’t necessarily go together,” Bennett said.

“He’ll play next week.”