NRL: Fears Latrell Mitchell could walk away from rugby league, Jack Wighton defends star teammate

Latrell Mitchell has a career-defining three weeks ahead of him, where he has to decide whether he is still in love with rugby league and is ready to accept the pressures of being a face of the game.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 09: Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs passes during a South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL training session at USANA Rabbitohs Centre on April 09, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Latrell Mitchell needs to use the next three weeks to work out if he wants to keep playing rugby league.

Everyone in the game can see a man grappling with his love for the sport and the pressure of being a face of the game.

There’s a feeling around the game that the South Sydney star could walk at any moment. That it’s not a matter of if, but when?

He appears torn between upholding his status as an outspoken and proud leader within his community, and a footballer, who when he wants to, has the size, power and speed to carry an entire team to the finals on his back.

Most just want to see a gifted athlete doing what he does best.

It has never been more apparent to those closest to the South Sydney star that the next three weeks are career-defining.

Does he want to be a footballer or a farmer?

Suspended star Latrell Mitchell training at the USANA Rabbitohs Centre. Picture: Justin Lloyd

His three-week suspension for another brain-snap by elbowing Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson in the face should be pivotal in determining if the 26-year-old is willing to come back for Souths if for nothing else, but love for the game and his team.

Like him or not, Phil Gould has been around rugby league long enough to understand footballers.

Gould is adamant Mitchell could up and leave the game at any moment.

“If he woke up tomorrow and decided I’m not going to play rugby league and went away to his farm, I would not be surprised,‘’ Gould said on Nine.

“Has anyone ever sat Latrell down and said do you really want to play this game?

“Are you really in love with this game? Do you love hard work? Do you love discipline? Do you love your teammates? Do you love the club? … or is it just I’ll do it because I’m good at it but I’ll do it my own way.

“Has someone actually sat him down and said if you had a chance to walk away, would you go? I reckon he would. I reckon he will, I don’t see that he’s in love with it at all.”

However, there are already signs that Mitchell is using his time off to show he wants to remain in the NRL.

Has Latrell Mitchell lost his love for rugby league? Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

He met with Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly on Tuesday and said he was committed to being the best person and footballer he can be.

“Everyone at the club wants to see the best of Latrell on the field,’’ Solly said.

Paul Gallen, capable of playing angry himself, said he was confused by the Mitchell he sees offering himself to community work and the player he is on the field.

“I tell you what he loves, his people and he loves doing things for the community … during the week on his day off he jumped on a plane and went off to Moree to help with the police,” he said.

“And I got told by the police themselves he did an absolutely fantastic job. I think he likes giving back to the community, he likes doing those sorts of things.

“I don’t know if anyone’s asked him that (about his love of the game), I can’t imagine he doesn’t like the game, but at the moment he just looks angry at the world and he’s playing that way.”

Rabbitohs teammate Jack Wighton left Canberra after 12-seasons to sign with Souths this year.

One of the biggest lures in making the emotional call to leave the Raiders was to play with his close mate Mitchell.

Jack Wighton is close friends with Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Wighton is cluey. He knows that by making a comment about Mitchell to the media there’s every chance it will lead to another headline about his mate.

It’s why he dead-batted almost every question from the press pack at Rabbitohs HQ, Heffron Park about Mitchell yesterday.

Except one.

When The Daily Telegraph asked Wighton about fears that Mitchell could walk and that the suspended fullback’s love affair with league was dying, the Rabbitohs centre spoke from the heart, even when his head told him not to.

“He’s one reason I came here, he’s a big part of the team, we’ll miss him,” Wighton said.

“Yes, he loves the game.

“Everyone sit tight. Watch him in the near future. That’s all I can say.”

Wighton pointed to the hour prior as an example of Mitchell’s flickering flame that still burns within.

Wearing the ‘B team’ green shirt, Mitchell trained on Tuesday alongside the NSW Cup and reserve players that won’t be selected for a must-win game against the Sharks on Saturday night.

He could be spotted mentoring rookie fullback Jye Gray before then rounding out the session by joining the players on their way back from injury in running drills.

“He’s doing his part now, he’s in this position – he’s put himself in this predicament – so he’s doing the next big thing, which is to get everyone else ready,” Wighton said.

The flame still flickers. For now.

Originally published as NRL: Fears Latrell Mitchell could walk away from rugby league, Jack Wighton defends star teammate