Rabbitohs coach addresses rumours about Latrell Mitchell
A simmering rumour about South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell has been put to bed as the team mounts a comeback following the 2023 season flop.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Rabbitohs couch Jason Demetriou discussed the team’s historic collapse in the 2023 season in which the team missed the finals.
The team’s season was marred by drama involving Sam Burgess, who was let go as assistant coach with reports he was upset about alleged preferential treatment for Mitchell and Cody Walker.
A late suspension for Mitchell after he was charged for dangerous contact over an elbow to the back of Knights forward Tyson Frizell meant he missed a crucial game — which turned out to be the last of the season for the Souths.
Coach Jason Demetriou during South Sydney Rabbitohs training at USANA Rabbitohs Centre, Maroubra. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
Speaking with rugby league reporter and presenter Fatima Kdouh, Demetriou addressed whispers that Latrell would make a switch from fullback to five-eighth.
Demetriou was circumspect, saying: “I’ve had those conversations with him and it’s about getting him ready for a full season at fullback, which he hasn’t had yet.
“He hasn’t trained before early or mid-January since he came to the club and to have him doing the workload he’s doing at the moment, that is going to set him up for a really good season.
“People get jobs in the press and I respect that’s (their) opinion. But when you see Latrell day in, day out and see what he brings to the team, people forget our season started going pear-shaped when he got injured.”
There are rumours about shifting Lattrell to five-eigth. Picture: Tim Hunter.
There have been growing murmurings in the media about shifting Latrell, with some saying he already plays in that manner.
A recent opinion piece by Alex McKinnon from Fox Sports called for Souths to make a “big Latrell move”.
“If the Rabbitohs want to win their first premiership in a decade then I believe a move to the halves for Latrell Mitchell to partner Cody Walker should be on the cards,” he wrote.
“Walker is an experienced ballplayer who could steer the side around at halfback while Mitchell injects himself when necessary in the No. 6 jersey.
“Mitchell has long been compared to NRL legend Greg Inglis, who played most of his career at fullback but also won a Clive Churchill Medal at five-eighth.”
SOURCE: NEWS.COM
