Latrell wants more. Money.
Yeah, more money.
More money from where?
Just more money y’know. Latrell doesn’t get enough money. Other players have lots of money – he wants, he wants some of that money!
I dunno, maybe the rumours about Latrell Mitchell are true.
Not the ones about him heading to Souths – and certainly not the ones about him joining rugby.
No, the stories about the young superstar having the wrong people in his ear are the ones that appear to be on the mark.
Because at the moment, the only live offer for the best centre in the NRL is from the Gold Coast Titans.
Kid’s a gun footy player, but he’s shit at doing a deal if the only club interested in him is the reigning wooden spooners.
It’s been a rollercoaster year for the Taree tyro.
He turned in perhaps the most dominant performance of the entire season in putting 26 points on the Tigers in May, which ignited the stories that he was ready to get all ‘Canada on strike’ with the Roosters.
He had a crap game for NSW in Origin 1 and got dropped.
He won a second successive premiership with the Roosters and was named Dally M Centre of the Year.
He retained his spot in a Kangaroos side which was beaten by a Tier 2 nation for the first time in ever and was singled out by none other than Blues coach Brad Fittler for “soft options”.
He took his services to the open market – as he was more than entitled to do – after deciding his club’s offer of $800K a year wasn’t enough.
And since then, the people who were interested in signing him have said…
• Rabbitohs general manager Shane Richardson “We haven’t got any interest in Latrell Mitchell.”
• Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill: “We won’t pursue an interest in Latrell Mitchell.”
• Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe: “There was genuine interest there and still may be, but the timeframes meant we need to move forward.”
• Cowboys football manager Peter Parr: “He’s up in the top echelon of players in the competition, he showed some interest in our club, we thought we would be mad not to talk to him but…”
Ooh Trell, that’s a lot of interest. Bit like potential – it’s nice to have it, but doesn’t mean much if you don’t convert it into something tangible.
As for his current club, coach Trent Robinson has put a line through 2019’s top point-scorer being at Bondi long term, saying “We’ve got to move on.”
And the Tricolours have moved on, locking up the services of Joey Manu (who, just quietly, may have less talent but is a more complete and consistent player than Mitchell), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
At least one of those blokes – probably two – are now taking up money that Nick Politis had previously earmarked for Mitchell’s future.
He’s got a contract for next year, so there’s a chance he’ll play there in 2020, but Mitchell is on borrowed time at the Chooks.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
So what to do?
The bloke is absolutely worth $1 million a year. He may drift in and out of games, but he puts bums on seats and in business – even the business of rugby league – making money is the most important thing.
But what did he do when offered the money he desired? He dragged his feet.
Like, really? Someone says you can have exactly what you want and you say, “I’ll get back to you at some stage.”
The narrative surrounding Mitchell’s failure to act and thus the pulling of any viable offer – the Titans aren’t viable and Rugby Australia is a bigger shambles than the Gold Coast club, so neither are viable – is that he’s getting bad advice from unidentified people.
Here’s an idea: tell everyone to rack off.
Footy players love to wheel out the line “I’ll leave it to my manager”, but ultimately it’s their career.
Mitchell might have a bunch of people telling him what to do, but he’s holding the pen. He’s the one who has decided not to sign a contract.
Sure, he’s only 22. I was a total and complete idiot at that age, who had no idea (I’ve got like half an idea now – many, many years later).
But he’s old enough to man up and take control of his future.
Which means if he’s left playing reggies for North Sydney next year when he could have been playing fullback on a seven-figure salary, it’s his fault.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Why “highlight” your own “failures” when you can always trash someone for a single failed prediction of now long ago? Classy.
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Great to see you are warming to a bit of Shakespeare, Insider.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
I don't like to brag about my achievements Footy Fan, or highlight my failures either. There are plenty here that will line up for that in any case. I knew an Insider once who used to share a coffee with the NRL inner-circle. But when he convinced me that Cooper Cronk was signing with the Rabbitohs before he became a Bondi Junction battery chook I started doubting whether they were sharing a coffee with the NRL inner-sanctum or serving them. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
@ Train Without A Station Welcome to the NRL and the farce that is the player transfer window. It gets worse every year. Forced medical retirements, transfers on "compassionate grounds", players being "shopped around", genuine offers that are left on the table until the clubs get tired of waiting for a player to use their offer as leverage to get mo' money. Clearly Politis has done a great job of poisoning the media against Latrell Mitchell which is having an affect on the clubs that had been circling him with interest. It's quite a circus. But it's still better than the JDB media circus, the lewd home movie scandals and the Bennett/Seibold coaching swap saga from last off-season that was more epic than the Star Wars triple trilogies. Still, there's 3 and a half months remaining in the off-season. I have high hopes for more lowlights to come.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Brisbane (aka North Korea). I see that the Sea Eagles have spared no expense signing Brayden Musgrove (Knights) and Luke Metcalf (upgraded from development contract) for 2020 (their ONLY new signings). Any chance the Turbo will be firing on all cylinders next year or will he only play half a season again?
Patrick
Roar Rookie
Yeah, don't know who wrote this, but by the look of the photo he looks like the type of guy who was probably simulating beastiality on public statues when he was 22. Not a guy to take contract advice on for the limited time frame Latrell has to make a living as an athlete.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He hasn't been involved in any off field dramas has he? This is the only off fiend issue he seems to have had, yet people are saying he's a trouble maker (based on this) and using that to justify their criticism for not taking the offer. Talk about circular logic.
Jewboy
Guest
Have to agree with you TWAS ...at 22 years old I think his best football is still ahead of him,and that could be 10 good years. I say give him his space and hopefully with some good advice and help his journey can get back on the right track and he can still fulfill his potential in rugby league. IMO he doesn't seem to come across as a ratbag or stirrer and I feel is still worth the time and effort to coach and help improve his skills. I only wish I was 40 years younger, had his skills and know what I know now.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How? By saying when he's allowed to field offers he will see what he's offered?
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Suggesting Latrell should "man up" is apparently 'toxic masculinity' and should be discouraged.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This is ludicrous. The bloke's crime is not committing to a contract within a month of being able to start negotiating? and 13 months before the contract would commence?
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Off to Toronto? If yes, it's out of sight out of mind - done & we can all move on.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Romeo oh Romeo were r thou Romeo :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
mushi
Roar Guru
"But the chooks have threatened to send Latrell to the Rugby League graveyard Dutski. " I thought south's turned him down?
mushi
Roar Guru
Gen X was Me.Inc loyalty is to yourself hard work is all good but I's gots to gets paid. His behavior, whilst poorly executed, is pretty text book gen x
PT
Guest
the roosters didn't rule anything out. Stop listening to that hack James Hooper.
mushi
Roar Guru
RTS told the rooster to not bother matching as he wanted to go home. But he’s a unique (and positively so) case. His brother’s song about retiring at 22 was also a positive happiness over fame message.
Footy Fan
Guest
Of those forceful claims you make, ever fluked it and got one right? Just checking.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
He overplayed his hand. Big egos do that.
keith hurst
Roar Pro
We all seem to blame his old and new managers. As I don't know what advice they are giving and whether the advice is listened to or not we really don't know what the hell is happening. What we do know is that a young very promising player is looking greedy and indecisive. In the end he has the talent and he is entitled to make the best possible use of it. As long as these moves or lack of them are his decision we can't complain but I hope that he doesn't burn his bridges before he has the opportunity to realise his undoubted potential. Keith Hurst Roar Pro