Did you ever doubt him? Latrell Mitchell had endured something of a slow start to 2023, registering no tries and not so much as a line break prior to South Sydney’s traditional Good Friday clash with the Bulldogs.
Suffice to say, he’s answered any critics that he might have had. Latrell grabbed a hat trick in the Bunnies’ dominant 50-16 win, imposing himself on the game in the first half and putting the icing on the result late.
Beyond the tries, there were multiple miraculous plays: a bullet pass for Campbell Graham’s second of a hat-trick, a slinging one-handed pass for his third and even a nonchalant, arcing goalkicking that came back off the black dot.
The Easter Show was next door – and Latrell will be there with his cows on Saturday – but the fireworks started early thanks to the Bunnies’ main man.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
His impact was the obvious headline, but behind his finishes were sterling showings from captain Cameron Murray, five-eighth Cody Walker and hooker Damien Cook, who delivered all the ammunition their star fullback needed.
Things were already bad on the injury front for Canterbury with 11 players from their top 30 missing, but they got even worse early on with a nasty ankle injury to Josh Addo-Carr. The Bulldogs flyer caught a foot in the turf and left in a moonboot, putting his Origin chances in serious doubt.
The Dogs might also have to contend without Jacob Preston, who was binned for a hip-drop tackle on Izaac Thompson in the second half.
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Souths attack clicks, and one man is at the heart of it
No, not that man. Latrell did grab his first try of the season – off a massively forward pass, mind – but the genesis of most of what Souths did that was good was Murray.
The captain has been monumental this year, playing full 80 minutes in the middle some weeks, but the return of Tevita Tatola and Hame Sele has lifted so much weight off the back of the skipper that he was able to get back to his playmaking role.
Mitchell was able to take advantage of the greater fluidity in the attack that followed. For both of his tries in the first half, he was the beneficiary of superb right shifts where Murray dug in deep, kept the tacklers condensed and allowed the long pass to get around the side.
Mitchell – and later, on the left, Jacob Host – got to dot the ball down, but Murray was the man who made everything happen.
Close behind him was Cook. Perhaps it was a function of the middles, too, who were winning the floor against an undersized Bulldogs pack.
He set up the Bunnies’ first try for Murray with a smart piece of deception, changing the direction of travel and isolating rookie Harrison Edwards in the line. Late on, it was the hooker who spotted the man down to get Mitchell away for his third.
Even before the first try, he had looked in the mood, scurrying from behind the ruck and holding the markers in.
Between Cook’s ability to hold the middle and Murray’s willingness to stick defenders centrally, it was inevitable that Souths would find space if they could get the ball there fast enough. For the first time this year, they managed it.
High risk, high reward from the Bulldogs
The Dogs seemed to have have their hearts set on putting Souths off their stride. From their first touch of the footy, they attacked and went wide.
They were inverting their winger and centre at times, using Jacob Kiraz one in as a running and passing threat, especially from set plays, while Jake Averillo empowered to play wider outside of his winger and to drift on occasion.
Given the depleted roster coming in, it made perfect sense for Ciraldo to try to stun Souths early and build on that momentum.
It nearly worked, too. The first play caught the Bunnies cold and even when the scoreboard was moving against them, the endeavour from the Dogs continued.
The tactic was always likely to be one of high risk, high reward given the troops available. It looked like it was set to come off, but the lack of depth in the forwards did tell when Edwards went for a HIA and Souths were able to roll their biggest blokes against Canterbury’s smallest.
It struck again when Preston was binned, with Walker able to exploit scattered defence and Mitchell on hand to grab a hat-trick from more good work from Cook.
Josh Addo-Carr. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Addo-Carr an Origin doubt
Addo-Carr’s hopes of an Origin return could be over after suffering an ankle injury in the very early stages.
The Foxx went down when chasing a Matt Burton kick and appeared in immediate distress.
Replays showed that his foot appeared to get stuck in the turf at Accor Stadium, which has been largely out of action so far in 2023 after a series of concerts to start the year.
The winger was down for a prolonged period, and though he attempted to run it off, was swiftly stopped by the trainer. Later, TV footage showed him being carried down the tunnel by two trainers.
Initial reports from the sideline were that it was a syndesmosis injury, which typically take 6-8 weeks to rehab. Even if rushed back, that would likely rule the Foxx out of Origin 1 at a minimum.
Addo-Carr was expected to return to the NSW Blues team after being dropped in 2022. He bounced back in spectacular fashion, being voted into the Team of the Tournament at the World Cup and widely regarded as among Australia’s best players.
Cam Watts
Roar Rookie
But didn't he carry on like a complete pork-chop!
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
I disagree. He threw his feet out so he could bring his weight to bear. That is dangerous play. Once a defender takes their feet off the floor so they can swing their body weight against the attacker, they have no control on where they land. Preston needed to keep his feet. He was reckless.
GB
Roar Rookie
FOX Sports, Greg Alexander I think, raised a good point. That this never happens at training as teams are at pains to avoid injuring teammates. I'm not saying Preston did it intentionally but in general there is an intentionality to that type of tackle to stop an attacker on a dime when they are hard to bring down and would otherwise continue to drag smaller defenders behind them. I remember the early instances of this type of tackle had a clear intention to injure a key player and remove them from the game. This type of tackle needs to be eradicated from the game. But there is a problem with making a blanket ruling without applying commonsense and basing the call on whether or not a player is injured. I still want to know why Victor Radley escaped a lengthy suspension for intentionally taking Tevita Tatola out of the game for 4 weeks.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Preston is on the ground while Thompson is still on his feet… It’s a shame Thompson’s foot got caught under Preston but by the NRL’s own definition it’s not a hip drop…
GB
Roar Rookie
Let's see where Souths are when, Tatola is 100% after his knee injury and AJ, Arrow, Havili, Shaq Mitchell and Knight are all available. If Souths have no other injuries or suspensions to worry about they should be flying after having gotten past the best teams in the NRL in the first 10 rounds.
GB
Roar Rookie
You haven’t done Preston any favours, TB. I initially argued against it but on the photographic evidence he'll be lucky not to get 6 weeks! :laughing:
Gary Russell-Sharam
Roar Rookie
Murray and Graham were the stars of this win, all the hullabaloo about Mitchel is really way over the top. He was on the end of great lead up work each time. He had some good runs but Murray and Graham were the stars of the show and deserved much more credence than Mitchell. I'll bet the coach behind closed doors is telling them that. I do wish the media would report something that is factual instead of jumping up and down like little schoolboys when Mitchell scores a try. As I said he was on the end of great leadup work each time and any winger or fullback of any sort of talent would have scored these tries. For bits of the game he was his usual lazy self. Give me Tedesco anytime for the amount of grunt work that he does as a fullback.
GB
Roar Rookie
Keon Koloamatangi had a great game as well. He won the VB Hard Earned award.
GB
Roar Rookie
Please don't let the injury to Addo-Carr open the door for Suualii to play for the Blues. Campbell Graham showed yesterday he is one of the form outside backs in the competition and will look equally as good at centre or on the wing. Tommy T. and Latrell should be the centres and Graham and To'o the wingers. Joseph Suualii should play left right out.
GB
Roar Rookie
Throw in Keon Koloamatangi as well and Damien Cook has been good as well if not back to his best just yet.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Coming off such a short turn around with injuries the Dogs stood little chance. 11-3 penalty counts, fake sin binnings and dubious passes were only going to blow the score out. We often joke when there is a try with a forward pass about it being an NFL play. But even in the NFL you are only allowed one forward pass per play, so even in the NFL at least one Rabbits first half try would have been disallowed. Souths also need to explain the Tom Burgess grubby squirrel grip. Is it a coincidence that Sam is his brother or a coincidence that Sam is a coach at Souths?
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Those two have been Souths' best players all year (in Murray's case the last 5 years).
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Agree. These tackles are such a grey area.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Does Graham make the Origin run-on side this year? His defence is definitely up to that arena.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Rabbits needed to win. But bit of a false dawn against a reserve grade Bulldogs team. Let's see where Souths are at in 4 weeks time.
kk
Roar Pro
I had expected a 35 point difference, yet it did not feel like a walkover.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So on nrl.com, they’ve had a video of Graham Annesley explaining the three key indicators that the MRC look for in determining a hip drop tackle. Dutski has referenced it above. The only one of the three indicators present in Preston’s tackle was that he landed on Thompson’s legs . The video has been there since May 2022. I posted a link to it last week following the three charges and watched it again last night to confirm my understanding of a hip drop tackle . As of this morning, the NRL has taken the video down . Timing is pretty convenient. Retrospective rule changes in play because Preston’s tackle clearly wasn’t a hip drop? . https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/05/02/key-indicators-of-a-hip-drop-tackle/
andrew
Roar Rookie
I thought Murray and Graham were South's best GB. It seems some commentators overlook all the great leadup work for Latrell's tries, and give him all the credit. As you rightly say he went MIA, and he was caught out when Canterbury scored.
Noel
Roar Rookie
I thought he was going for the one on one steal, and leveraging his weight on the ball carrying arm. Shows how much I know.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Agree GB, the first 30 minutes was very pedestrian and thought the halftime score really flattered us. Good to see them go on with it in second half but it was a depleted Dogs team so some perspective needed. Trell has awoken from his slumber and was outstanding.