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How many times have you heard Latrell Mitchell being described as being the next Greg Inglis? Many players have been touted as the next big thing, but, given Mitchell’s current form, this comparison has some merit.
So how similar are these players? Firstly, they are both proud indigenous players who celebrate tries by paying tribute to their heritage. Greg Inglis is known for his goanna crawl while the younger Mitchell seems to prefer a Wallaby dance of sorts.
One of the main reasons they are compared is their size, with Inglis being 195cm high and Mitchell only slightly less at 193cm. Weight-wise, there’s not much between them – both around 103-105kg depending on what they’re eating at the time, although Inglis was around 101kg when he came into first grade.
Inglis made his debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2005 as an 18-year-old, coming on as a replacement for injured winger Jake Webster against Parramatta. He scored a try in his first match and stole Webster’s place in the run-on side.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Latrell Mitchell also made his debut at 18 years of age for the Sydney Roosters in 2016 against Inglis’ current side, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He played fullback for that game and went on to play the key position for the entire year, scoring 14 tries and cementing himself as a future star.
Both players had stellar junior careers and were marked as players of the future. They each represented the Australian Schoolboys team and under-20 Origin teams, although Inglis represented the Queensland team while Mitchell was selected for the NSW juniors.
They also both come from successful sporting families, with Mitchell being the great nephew of Yvonne Goolagong who rose to fame in the 1970s and early 80s as the world number one tennis player. She actually won 14 Grand Slams and was one of Australia’s first indigenous stars.
Greg Inglis’ family is more tied to rugby league, with his cousins being ex-Sharks and Titans player Albert Kelly, Beau Champion, who played for the Rabbits and Eels, and Dally M Player Of The Year and former Cronulla and Penrith star, Preston Campbell.
Given that Greg Inglis is almost ten years older than his younger rival, he has experienced far more highs including countless Origin and Australian jerseys, plus the honour of winning South Sydney’s first grand final in almost 50 years during 2014.
But there’s no reason to believe that Latrell won’t follow this path. And even though the Roosters back has stated that he wants to create his own legacy, he clearly admires and respects the future Immortal.
Can Latrell Mitchell match or even surpass the feats of his idol? Only time will tell, but Mitchell’s star is rising every week.
So next time you watch the Rabbits play the Roosters, consider that you may well be watching the sorcerer and the apprentice.
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