Perhaps it should have been expected that Latrell Mitchell would suffer a dip in form at the start of 2023.
Few players have ever enjoyed a streak as good as the one that Latrell was on in the back end of last year, where he was averaging almost two try assists per game as Souths went on a tear that ended up with defeat in the Preliminary Final to Penrith.
Mitchell then backed it up with a superb World Cup, a short break, then the Indigenous All Stars game to kick off this year, so he was likely overdue a return to regular human levels.
Still, ahead of his 150th NRL appearance this weekend in the traditional Good Friday clash with the Bulldogs, he admitted that he needed to have more impact in games.
Mitchell was a passenger until the hour mark in last Friday night’s defeat to Melbourne, and is yet to register a single try or line break this year.
“It’s definitely something to work on, and everyone has got something to work on,” he said of Souths’ 2-3 start to the year.
“Instead of chasing our tails in the back end, we should be starting the game earlier.
“For me personally, I know I need to get my hands on the ball a bit earlier in the game and flip the mentality.
“He (Demetriou) always has the right thing to say and I know to take it on the chin. It’s definitely a special relationship that we get to have as coach and player and he knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m going to put my best foot forward and it’s a job we love to do and we’ve got to start making it enjoyable for ourselves.”
It has been a tough start for Latrell off the field, with his preseason arrest in Canberra followed by an incident in which he was allegedly racially abused by a fan at Penrith.
Souths vehemently rejected a suggestion from the NRL that Mitchell meet with the fan in question, suggesting that they should not hand an opportunity to them that is not available to regular, well-behaved supporters.
“I think that’s a matter in the NRL’s hands now,” said the man himself.
“I just want to focus on footy. It’s not my problem. There are people involved and I’ve just got to focus on my role here and not focus my energy on that.
“It does (hurt), but it is what it is. We’re passed that and the process will be taken upon.”
Instead this week, he will focus on the Dogs and a special occasion for him.
“I never thought I’d play one game, a kid from Taree, but to play 150, it’s very special to me and my family,” said Mitchell.
“I’ve had to grow a lot in a short amount of time – I thank you fellas (journalists) for that – but I’m very proud and can’t wait.
“I think my actions speak a lot for those things. I try to present myself as best I can for the kids and try to be a great role model. It’s something that happens naturally and I don’t try to force it on anyone. I just try to be the country kid I once was.
“Everyone thinks I’m 35 and at the end of my career and meant to know everything. I’m only 25, I’m still learning, that’s the beauty of our game, we get to enjoy it every week, we take our learnings – I don’t take them as losses, I take them as lessons.”
GB
Roar Rookie
I respected Latrell's natural skill and athleticism, just as I can respect Tedesco and Manu in the same way. Just as I thing Suualii is an overhyped, overrated pratt. I didn't like the rubbish Latrell had in his game at the Roosters. Slowly but surely the Rabbitohs are trying to shift the focus to performance over tomfoolery but that seems to have gone off the rails in recent weeks.
varun sharma
Roar Rookie
You said it right when he is on but his on game is far in between mate. Most of the time he appears lazy, lethargic not wanting ball in his hands.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
cheers GB. i was always worried about the direction comments on this article would take. the article is really about his form, which probably most Bunnies fans would agree is a bit off. however, as i thought it might, comments degenerate into spirited differences of opinion on a serious subject. our comments were mild compared to others still on the thread. i think he's a terrific player, who has that rare quality of raising the excitement level every time he gets the ball. i mean "Latrell is in space" & everyones on their feet. tell me GB, were you a fan of his when he was at the Roosters?
MrTimnaik
Roar Rookie
Thankfully the decision is not in your hands. I'm sure cooler heads will prevail here when weighing up the facts and what is the appropriate sanction for this kind of behaviour. Nick, I respect your view, but do not agree with it. One of us will be vindicated soon enough.
MrTimnaik
Roar Rookie
Let him understand what he did/said was wrong and unacceptable.
astro
Roar Rookie
Couldn't disagree more. Latrell is an incredible talent. You say he's "never going to be" Tedesco, and yet at the same age, Teddy was just moving to the Roosters and just starting to play as an Origin regular. Mitchell has already played as a key figure in two NRL grand final wins, 7 Origin matches and a WC win for the Kangaroos. When he's on, Latrell is one of the most dominant backs in the game. Statistically, last year, Mitchell broke a tackle on nearly half his runs. In other words, he busted every second tackle. Only Joey Manu came close to that. Yes, Mitchell is having a slow start to the year, but you could argue he's not the only one of this Souths team. Cam Murray came out today and said as much.
varun sharma
Roar Rookie
Let's put it this way LM is never going to be GI, Billy Slater or Tedesco. Media has made him way bigger than he actually is. May be cause he plays and played in two favourite clubs of NSW media.
GB
Roar Rookie
Bernie, I agree with your comment on the "Uncle Nick" take down thread. :thumbup:
scrum
Roar Rookie
Exactly he is 14. I think you will find that for people to actually meet up face to face with the person they have abused and have explained the effect racist talk can have would be a far more powerful intervention than a life ban, especially at this age .
scrum
Roar Rookie
And that’s your trouble- preconceived idea way off the mark
Bernie
Roar Rookie
maybe we should ban him from been a 14 year old.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
with the lazy slobby working class GB, get it right. we're all slobby & lazy .... none of this middle class, wishy washy stuff .....
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Obviously you've exhausted most of the people on this thread, now you are replying to me. I could agree with you that a lifetime ban is the correct form of punishment.... But then we'd both be wrong :thumbup:
Nick
Roar Rookie
You are now defending the kid. He was told since he was 6 that this stuff is never ok. The punishment should fit the crime. Banning for life him would be a vindictive response to a societal problem. No. Giving the kid a criminal record would be a vindictive response. Giving the kid a custodial sentence would be a vindictive response. Telling a kid he can watch the games on TV instead of at the stadium is quite minor. It wouldn't impact his career prospects, it wouldn't impact his future. It wouldn't even impact his chances of playing professional rugby league. He needs to learn that certain actions come with certain consequences. He is 14. He knew better than that. The continued watering down of the transgression serves no one. But then, you are someone who equates a life time ban as appropriate for murder.
Nick
Roar Rookie
He cannot learn though diversionary tactics. He will learn through a life time ban. He is 14 and has been told repeatedly in life that this stuff is not on. He is evidently past the point of learning on this topic. He can now cop his punishment. It's only a life ban. It's minor. It's not prison, it's not a punitive fine. There will be no criminal record. He will not be prohibited or held back career wise. All it is is that he can't watch football in a live venue. It is a very minor and proportionate punishment.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Lol. I really don't have time to debate with people who need to take "allegiances". I like football. And NRL. And AFL. I like sport in general. It is interesting though that you only seem to have a problem when I criticise players or the system but have no complaints when a multitude of other ROAR contributors do the same. That reeks of hypocrisy, double standards and a personal obsession. No. Players serve as every NRL fans’ entertainment. THAT is the point of them being professional footballers. Without fans the game has no commercial viability. That last statement is correct, but the first is rubbish. They do not play for you. Rugby league existed long before fans and commercial viability. You mentioned projection earlier: all you are doing is projecting your own inadequate rugby league abilities on someone who is much better than you at the sport. You tell him to work hard. He has worked hard. It's why he plays top flight NRL and why you sit on your couch envious that he does because you either didn't have the skill or the work ethic to improve.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Albo You mean a 14 year old racist at the footy. he knew what he was doing. Don't defend him.
steveng
Roar Rookie
100% and fully agree with you GB, I hurt every time the Bunnies lose, always have and always will do :angry: especially when they don't have a go, as I said in a previous post, Trell should TAKE A BIG LESSON and look at the hard working FBs in the NRL comp (if he wants to be a FB?) and especially look at Gutho, who never ever takes a backward step and is always 100% to 200% on the job, if Gutho was at FB in last Thursdays game, at least 2 try wouldn't have been scored for sure, as Trell was never there. I suggest that Trell have a close look at Gutho effort and determination of how to be a REAL FB and what a REAL FB does! Anyway, its easy to be a lounge chair critic but at certain times you do have to be critical as saying nothing is even worse, the Bunnies will come good but if they leave it like last year they will have a very hard task ahead of them.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The kid denies he said anything racist ! Where is the evidence to convict him ? What has the extensive police investigation uncovered ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Like you bashing a 14 y/o kid at the footy ? :unhappy: