Latrell Mitchell and Joey Manu both had breakout years in 2018 and they should continue to improve for years to come.
The most recent Test match between Australia and New Zealand was outstanding and perhaps the best aspect of the game was the battle between these young men in the centres.
Overall, Manu got the better of Mitchell, with one play to set up Jordan Rapana being an incredible piece of skill that I am not sure another centre in the game could have achieved.
So what do the stats say?
Mitchell scored 17 tries for the year, compared to Manu’s nine. However, Manu created a lot more chances for the men around him, with nine line break assists and six try assists, compared to Mitchell’s four try assists and five line break assists.
This says Manu may develop into a player such as Matt Gidley or perhaps Jamie Lyon – he may not score a ton of tries himself, but sets up his wing man.
It is also worth remembering that the Roosters were much more likely to attack down Mitchell’s side, so Manu was given fewer chances to create or score himself.
Manu averaged just over 85 metres compared to Mitchell’s 77 metres. Neither were able to crack 100 metres, which makes me wonder if you can pay a million dollars for such output?
Mitchell is one of the most physically gifted players to play NRL in the last ten years, as shown by his 18 line breaks for the year. He proved impossible to handle one on one and his mix of size, strength and footwork were a match for two or three defenders.
Manu had 11 line breaks, but if we add his line break assist numbers, we get a much closer number to Mitchell’s, which again shows their different styles.
Tackle breaks is another clear victory to Mitchell, with 118 for the year, while Manu made 80 – another sign of the former’s ability to dominate.
Now it is important to look at defence, where both often misread attacks – Mitchell can get overly aggressive, resulting in penalties.
Manu defended at a rate of 79 per cent effective tackles, missing 46 for the year, while making 19 handling errors, but giving away few penalties.
Mitchell had 82 per cent tackle efficiency, missing 30 for the year. He did give away 24 penalties to be the sixth most penalised player in the game, while making 18 handling errors. Mitchell was more likely to give away the ball or field position than Manu.
So who would you take?
This one for me is much more clear cut then the Fifita or Klemmer debate.
When you add his goal kicking, you have to pick Mitchell.
It will be interesting to see what the Roosters do in a few years when the pair come off contract: can you afford to pay Mitchell close to a million dollars or do you let him go and keep Manu, who will be slightly cheaper?
A huge choice lies in the Roosters’ future.
mushi
Roar Guru
Depends. If they are one of your top 2 or 3 players then Mitchell, as he can change a game more. If you've already got a couple of game breakers then Manu as he takes nothing off the table.
JOLIE
Guest
What a question but a lot of people will latreall but I might have to go with joseph Manu he has a lot of the same qualities that are dangerous so does latreall but manu more dangerous if u wacth the nz vs aus or rabbits vs rosters or search up main 2018 highlights he has a lot of talent hopefully nrl see that.
Footy Fan
Guest
Tie! Both had outstanding years. Both strong through the home-and-away. Mitchell starred in Origin right from the start of his first game, was the best centre in the series and probably better than last year's best, too. Manu starred in the semis when Mitchell was suspended for 2 games, outstanding defence shut down Inglis and kept South's tryless. And he was fab for the Kiwis with Sean Johnson talking him up. Manu's future looks bright - he was very dominant as a junior centre (when Mitchell was playing some fullback), then his physical development stalled in 17, but he caught back up in 18. BTW, try 720k for the absolute best centre. Only the top few halves and top cpl of fullbacks get 1M. Centres touch the ball 40% as often, and make maybe 10-12 tackles a game. I hope neither insists they want to play fullback - because they are true superstars at centre.
Rod
Guest
Agreed. All though I thought Manu dominated Mitchell in the test match
Rod
Guest
Mitchell is an amazing talent doesn’t have the temperament uet to be classed as a great centre . Inglis was a better allround player at the same age. Inglis may not be explosive players he once was , his influence for Souths this year was better than most think .He was instrumental part in how potent the left edge was. The last part of the year he was playing busted so had lost some impact. Inglis has a steady head, doesn’t get frustrated . His all round skill and experience for me sees him as still our best centre.
nerval
Guest
Sadly, Manu - despite a big build-up by the BBC broadcasting team - was just about invisible in all three Tests against England. It was made worse by his being directly up against Hull FC's Connor, who was a half-back playing out of position. Nonetheless, Manu has great poise, dexterity with the football and will star for years to come - but Latrell Mitchell is on another level altogether.
R N
Roar Rookie
Very close but I would go with Manu.... I was really impressed this year how many big plays he did at important moments or instigated first try! Their 2018 kind of reminded me of Thurston and Morgan in the Cows premiership year... Morgan often did the game breaking play and Thurston would get all the credit!
Kay Merda
Roar Rookie
Both started as kids, have been developed and are now reaching their peak at The Roosters. Hopefully we won't have to choose between them as growing up together in one club should see them stay. But looking at what happened with RTS, The Warriors will soon offer Joey the house and the "Call of the Bru" will see him off home to disappear into the NZ mediocrity ether like most returning Kiwis. Vis a vis development: setting two competitive, young guns to mark and train against each other every week has worked out just swell. Kudos Robbo.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i would want to see Manu produce for a longer period of time. hes only really just established himself
Jacks
Roar Guru
You make a good point. Centre play was much more evident this year compared to the last few years. Early ball to the centre became a real feature of some teams attacks and signals to me that we might slowly be returning to old school football. Next the ball playing lock. Think Victor Radley, Cameron Murray and maybe Ryan matterson depending where the tigers choose to play him
Albo
Roar Rookie
Both are very promising centres who did have breakout seasons in 2018. You would be happy to have either of them, but to have both is just being greedy ! I actually think it was a bit of a vintage year for promising young centres to really emerge with the likes of Waqa Blake, Jessie Ramien & Esan Marsters all having big seasons in 2018. Blake in particular compares pretty well statistically with the Roosters pair, from just 16 matches, he had 13 tries, 5 try assists, 7 line breaks, 66 tackle busts, 94 average running metres & 82 % tackle efficiency. Whilst other young centres had consistent impacts with Jesse Ramien from 20 matches, 10 tries, 3 try assists, 9 line breaks, 63 tackle busts, 110 average running metres & 86% tackle efficiency. Esan Marsters had 24 matches 3 tries ( & 56 goals), 7 try assists, 9 line breaks, 67 tackle busts, 130 average running metres & 82% tackle efficiency. Also just emerging are more good young centres likely to shine in 2019 with Kotoni Staggs, Zac Lomax, Enari Tuala and Curtis Scott.
Paul
Roar Guru
Much of Manu's play seems to centre on the service he gets from the guys inside. I wonder how he'd go if Cronk or Keary wasn't there, but an "okay" 6 or 7? Mitchell however, can make breaks with or without inside help ( not saying Manu can't but he's less likely to than Mitchell). Both are okay in defence but not great, so I reckon Mitchell edges Manu by a nose.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I've been calling Mitchell the best centre in the game for a fair while now and that view has been reinforced over the last year. 'You've got to look at the total package I've been told' I have been. I've seen Mitchell score solo tries in SOO and a GF and play a huge role in his team winning. Inglis is steady and reliable but he's not a match winner anymore. Inglis used to demoralise opponents just like Mitchell does now. Manu's play towards the end of the season was just as good as Mitchells and I've got them as the two top centres in the game even with the rough edges.
Jacks
Roar Guru
Yeah totally agree both Mitchell and Manu can still read the game better when defending especially Manu, for me this is what makes Inglis better he is fantastic in defence. But Manu has improved very quickly with the Roosters in defence and was part of the best defensive group in the comp. The internationals could have just been a lack of knowing who was around him or outstanding English play. Tbh I have seen very little of the highlights to the game.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Look at where England scored their tries in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand (the highlights will do ). Bennett clearly targets Manu in defence and score plenty,this is where he needs to get lots better..
Jacks
Roar Guru
I think Manu showed in the test match that he can get very close or outplay Mitchell. The reason I bring up the Roosters retention is because I fell the Roosters will have to make this choice very soon. Regards to the number 1 centre in the game I'm happy to say Inglis is the best in the game still but these 2 are close and getting better still where as Inglis is not.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Sure,but the only center who is in the same stratosphere as Mitchell right now is Inglis..so to me it seemed that you were basically asking who is the best center in the game and who is the second best.. If it’s about Rooster retention,as you’ve alluded to later..there’s only one Mitchell..
Jacks
Roar Guru
I am talking more in today's game. The Inglis V Mitchell comparison has been done alot and people always romanticise the past and the players from the past so didn't really want to attempt that
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Based on the detail Jacks has gone into, the starting point of the discussion is; who would you rather in your team tomorrow, Mitchell or Manu? And people can extrapulate and expand from there. Not sure what the relevance of Inglis is.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Is the question ‘ who would you take .’ as in next year,in your team ?