Latrell Mitchell’s stunning Brandon Smith act as new Rabbitohs recruit opens up about feud

Latrell Mitchell and Brandon Smith have not always seen eye-to-eye, but their feud is now behind them after a stunning gesture from the Bunnies star.

New Rabbitohs recruit Brandon Smith says he and Latrell Mitchell have put their past beef behind them as they look to form a formidable partnership in the near future.

Smith, who has agreed to terms with the Rabbitohs for next season, revealed he and Mitchell have become close friends but admits he originally didn’t have a good opinion of the Souths star.

That is largely due to the pair’s feud that stemmed from a Round 2 clash between the Storm and Rabbitohs in 2022.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

At the time Smith was playing for Melbourne and he didn’t take well to Mitchell cupping his ear to mock the Storm home fans after slotting a two-point field goal to send the game to golden point.

In the end, Melbourne got the last laugh as Ryan Papenhuyzen went on to kick the winning field goal before Smith returned the favour by mimicking Mitchell.

This was despite the fact he wasn’t on the field and Smith’s actions did not go down well with the Rabbitohs.

Brandon Smith and Latrell Mitchell. Image: Getty

However, the pair’s tensions have since eased and Smith says Mitchell even reached out to offer his assistance after he left the Storm.

“I went through my dramas with Melbourne, and he was one of the guys that was the first to message me, one of the first to offer me a hand in any way,” Smith told the SMH.

“I didn’t have the highest opinion of him at the time. I just didn’t think that I meant anything to him at that point.

“And to be honest, there are probably people that didn’t message me that I thought would. So for him to do such a thing, from there on, we’ve kept in contact, and we get along really well.”

And Smith said he is excited to be Mitchell’s teammate.

“It’s warming to be able to go to a club with that guy. I know someone in that club cares for me deeply, and Latrell’s one of them. That’s pretty cool to say,” Smith continued.

“I think there’s a lot more to Latrell Mitchell than people think. That sideline ‘piss take’ … yeah he didn’t care, he shut me down pretty quickly. We’re all good.”

And the pair getting along is not something Wayne Bennett is losing sleep over.

 “We have a few big personalities here, so he won’t be out of place,” Bennett said.

“I’m sure they’ll get along well. We’ll make that happen.

“Hopefully [the deal] will get sorted out over the weekend, and Brandon will know where he stands. Hopefully, he will be here with us.

“He’ll be wanted here. We’ll welcome him with open arms.”

Brandon Smith’s time at the Roosters has not been a success. Image: NRL PHOTOS

Brandon Smith could join the Rabbitohs in the coming weeks

Despite Smith agreeing to terms with the Bunnies for next season, Wayne Bennett is understood to be attempting to bring him in this season.

However, for that to happen Souths will have to pay $180,000 in the form of a transfer fee to the Roosters.

While the Tri Colours showed Smith the door and said he wasn’t wanted beyond his contract, they want to be compensated by their arch nemesis to release him early.

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell’s stunning Brandon Smith act as new Rabbitohs recruit opens up about feud