South Sydney legend Greg Inglis has praised Latrell Mitchell for putting Indigenous issues front and centre of the rugby league agenda, declaring: “Latrell has become a voice for those who don’t have a voice.
More than 40,000 fans are expected to attend Souths’ Indigenous Round clash against Parramatta tonight, with Inglis among the First Nations sporting stars to be acknowledged before kick-off.
The 36-year-old will also be one of the judges for the inaugural Eric Simms Medal, to be presented to best player on ground.
Inglis helped deliver Souths a drought-breaking premiership in 2014, and Rabbitohs fans are banking on Mitchell doing the same this year. Mitchell has often been likened to Inglis, but the retired former Maroon said the 26-year-old was carving out his own path.
“He’s become a voice, he stands up and says, ‘It’s not OK to say these things’,” Inglis said of Mitchell. “He has become that voice for those who don’t have a voice, and it’s great to see. He’s grown into the role like a natural.
“When it comes [to his on-field ability], you always hear about the comparisons. When I was skinnier and younger, I was compared to ‘Peach’ [David Peachey], then when I got a bit more size on me, I was compared to Mal [Meninga].
Greg Inglis and children at a youth summit to coincide with the NRL’s Indigenous round on Thursday. Credit: Brook Mitchell
“By the time I finished my career I was my own player. And that’s the way Latrell will be. Latrell will keep telling you himself he wants to be his own man and player. Latrell wants to be Latrell. I love that about him.”
Inglis said there was no reason Souths could not win this year’s title.
“It’s anyone’s year this year, but Souths will be there at the end. It can be the year of the Rabbit if they stay injury free. They have their big guns firing at right time. But this Origin period will be interesting.”
Inglis spent the start of the week in Townsville with his Goanna Academy talking to inmates in prisons, then flew to Sydney where he addressed a group of 68 Indigenous youth leaders at NSWRL’s Sydney Olympic Park headquarters.
Pride of the league: Latrell Mitchell and Indigenous Rabbitohs teammates model the club’s Indigenous Round jersey.Credit: South Sydney Rabbitohs/Sunny Brar
There were some moving scenes yesterday before Souths training when captain Cameron Murray addressed the players about what this weekend meant to the club’s non-Indigenous players.
After Cody Walker was invited by coach Jason Demetriou to explain what the round meant to him, Murray pointed out Walker and Mitchell had always wanted to inspire the youth in their home towns.
And if that was one of Walker and Mitchell’s goals, Murray said, he would make it a goal of his own to help them achieve just that.
“He spoke to the boys about the importance of this round for all the group - it’s special for the Indigenous players, but it’s a special round for our club,” Demetriou said.
“The round is about us celebrating inclusiveness and opening our doors and hearts to make sure Indigenous people of the land feel this is their land, and they are celebrated. It’s a chance for non-Indigenous people to celebrate as well.
“Our game is so much richer for the Indigenous players who have played the game. As a kid you’d watch the greats run around, your Cliff Lyons, your Nathan Blacklocks and Anthony Mundines – you could list a host of players – and even to the outstanding players coming through now.
“Every year we get more Indigenous players finding their way into the NRL, which is a great credit to the NRL and clubs that we’re looking at that talent.”
Demetriou said Mitchell is “in a great place, he understands who he is, he understands what he wants to represent, and he’s getting real power from the people supporting him.”
Eels player J’maine Hopgood during Indigenous Round.Credit: NRL Photos
All Stars game steered Hopgood on important journey
Parramatta’s only Indigenous player has been inspired to learn more about his family roots after spending time with a few of the South Sydney rivals he will try to stop tonight.
J’maine Hopgood took part in the All Stars game at the start of the year and he was blown away at the team camp by some of the stories he heard from Rabbitohs stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
The 24-year-old grew up in Hervey Bay in Queensland, with his mother’s family part of the Goreng Goreng mob.
Hopgood told how he had been subjected to racial taunts over his fair complexion when taking part in the Murri Carnival, which is Queensland’s equivalent to the Koori Knockout.
Cronulla ace Nicho Hynes spoke about a similar experience where he revealed this year he was told he was “not black enough”.
Hopgood can still remember being targeted when he played alongside Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall and Ryan Walker, Cody’s older brother for eventual Murri Carnival 2018 winners Wenlock Rivers.
“I played in a couple of Murri Carnivals and copped a few sprays from the sideline,” Hopgood said. “I remember there was a fight after we had scored. I was waiting for the kick-off, I was standing near the sideline, and all these fans started giving me a mouthful.
“It doesn’t matter what colour you are – if it’s in your blood, it’s all about embracing it [your heritage] and learning more about it. I’m still on my journey learning about my past. I’m a proud Indigenous man.
“My mum’s side of the family is Indigenous, her grandmother was a Solomon Islander and grandfather Aboriginal. If you look at my mum or my pop, they’re darker than me.
“My past is something I want to learn more about, especially after being involved in the All Stars and knowing how much some of the players knew about their history.”
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