Rugby Australia says time not right to chase Latrell Mitchell
Rugby Australia won’t be making Latrell Mitchell a rich offer to switch codes.
Rugby Australia won’t be making Latrell Mitchell a rich offer to switch codes.
Sources close to RA said the possibility of luring Mitchell away from the NRL was discussed but no offer was made and any preliminary interest had ceased.
Gold Coast remain solid in their chase after Wests Tigers shifted away from the NSW Blues star.
North Queensland Cowboys are still interested but haven’t actively hunted Mitchell or lodged a formal offer.
It could leave the Titans as Mitchell’s only option after RA dismissed suggestions Mitchell could be about to shift codes.
It is understood RA won’t pursue Mitchell because new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie doesn’t formally start his role until the middle of next year. In addition, other players are a priority and need to be re-signed and the organisation is confronting Israel Folau’s $14m legal battle against it and the NSW Waratahs.
“Latrell was discussed but RA has other priorities,” the well-placed source said. “No one spoke to his management.
“RA has players that need to be re-signed and the Folau case needs to be finalised.
“They also have a new head coach who isn’t here in the country yet. They wanted to make sure Rennie was involved in those recruitment and selection decisions.
“Even if RA thought he was a good idea, the time just isn’t right.
“There is no doubt he a prodigious talent. Latrell is probably the best talent people have seen in the game for a long time.
“His natural ability is unbelievable but he’s just not right for RA at the moment.”
North Queensland are monitoring the situation and remain interested in Mitchell.
The Cowboys are trying to determine how much Mitchell would cost before making a final decision on whether to pursue the Sydney Roosters star.
Given North Queensland haven’t made an offer, they don’t feel a need to set a deadline on the 22-year-old.
The Cowboys would need to shift two, maybe three, players to find the money for Mitchell. Some club officials are aware such a dramatic move could affect team morale and they also know the difficulties in re-housing players at this time of the year.
It is understood Mitchell’s manager, Wayde Rushton, has kept in contact with Cowboys officials and the dialogue is continuing.
North Queensland aren’t actively chasing Mitchell but haven’t given up hope of signing him.
It is understood North Queensland would formalise an offer for Mitchell if he was genuine about a shift to Townsville.
Most rival clubs full expected Mitchell to sign with Wests Tigers. Talk that the Roosters may keep Mitchell and play him in the Canterbury Cup with feeder club North Sydney cannot be substantiated. However, it’s highly unlikely the Roosters would play a current Kangaroos centre in reserve grade.
The Daily Telegraph twice reached out to Rushton on Sunday but he did not respond.
Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire, chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe also did not return calls, and neither did Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly.
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