Phil Gould’s grim prediction on Latrell Mitchell’s future at Souths

Rugby league supremo Phil Gould has weighed in and delivered a grim verdict on the future of South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell.

Rugby league supremo Phil Gould has weighed in on the ongoing drama surrounding South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell.

Mitchell, 27, found himself in the spotlight of another scandal when a photo of him inside a Dubbo hotel room was leaked.

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In the photo, Mitchell is leaning over a table with what appears to be a an unknown white substance.

Mitchell was hit with a breach notice by the NRL and will front the club’s board on Thursday where it’s reported strict behavioural clauses will be added into his contract.

While NRL great Paul Gallen believes the club must take some responsibility, Gould said it’s “too late” for Mitchell to change his ways and delivered a grim prediction for his future.

Latrell won’t change his ways, according to Gus. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Phil Gould isn’t happy with Latrell.

“Latrell’s a grown man. He’s not a boy anymore, he’s not a rookie and that’s just an excuse to say, ‘if Wayne comes, I’ll behave myself’,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

“Well what if Wayne doesn’t come? Does that mean you’re going to keep doing what you’re doing? You’ve got take accountability for your own actions.

“As a football talent, elite, absolutely elite, one of the best in the game. No doubt Wayne Bennett’s going to South Sydney to win, so he needs Latrell. So he’ll make all the excuses for Latrell and suddenly he’s going to sprinkle magic dust on him and Latrell’s going to behave and everyone can live life happily ever after but that’s a cop out.

“This has been going on for a long, long time right throughout Latrell’s career and there is a lot of people responsible for it. Most of it is Latrell … he’s the one that’s got to be accountable. So now the excuse if Wayne’s coming, I’ll be accountable. It won’t, it’ll happen again.”

Will Bennett prove to be the difference make.

Latrell has endured an up and down 2024. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Bennett has vowed to support Mitchell and get him back to his best next season, but also delivered a pointed message when speaking to the media.

“Most businesses in Australia would fail if they were under the scrutiny we are under. We are under an enormous amount of scrutiny,” Bennett said.

“That doesn’t give us the reason to do what is not right. The reality is that if you decide to coach in the NRL, if you decide to play in the NRL or be an official in the NRL, you are under different rules to everyone else in society.

“If you can’t handle that, then don’t do the job. Go and be a part of society, otherwise you will be under scrutiny and you have to learn to live with it and change your behaviour. It is as simple as that.”

Many believe Bennett will get the best out of Latrell. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Gould said he didn’t believe Mitchell was capable of turning his professionalism around on and off the field.

“Is it too late for him to be a professional athlete that does everything right? 100 per cent it is,” he said.

“He doesn’t want to do that, I’ve said that for years. He doesn’t want to do that, he wants to be this Latrell, that’s what he wants to be and everyone’s allowed him to do that, they’ve allowed him to get away with it.

“Latrell’s let himself down, a number of people have let him down along the way. Wayne will come in for a couple of years and win some games with him and all that … but it’s not going to change him, it’s not going to change what he wants to do.”

Gus didn’t mince his words.

Mitchell is set to meet with the club’s board. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

As Gould turned the blowtorch on Mitchell, Gallen took aim at the club and said they have let him get away with his antics for far too long.

“Are South Sydney going to take any responsibility here? Why does Latrell act the way he acts? Why does Latrell get involved in things he’s not supposed to be involved in? He’s so outspoken. Why isn’t Latrell at South Sydney games? Because Souths don’t make him. No one at Souths is holding Latrell responsible,” Gallen said.

“Now they’re going to come in and fine the bloke and put certain clauses in his contract, I find that really rich from the South Sydney club.

Souths have let Latrell get away with it for far too long. NRL Imagery

“Latrell behaves the way Latrell behaves, because he’s allowed to behave like that. The club never pull him up.

“Has anyone at the club ever pulled him in, sat him down, and said you can’t do these things, you can’t do certain things, you’re not doing the right things by yourself, you’re not doing the right things by the club?

“I’m not having a go at anything with that photo and what’s happened there. My issue is, I feel it’s a bit rich for Souths to come in and try and discipline him now when they’ve allowed him to behave like this constantly, over and over and over, year after year and never pulled him up. I think the way he behaves is partly their fault because they’ve allowed it to happen.”

Mitchell put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Rabbitohs back in 2022, locking him in with the club until the end of the 2027 season.

Originally published as Phil Gould’s grim prediction on Latrell Mitchell’s future at Souths