If there’s one thing Latrell Mitchell is sick of talking about, it’s his much-anticipated return against the Roosters in round three.
“Mate, it’s all I’ve heard for the last few months,” he told Wide World of Sports at Souths‘ media day yesterday.
Mitchell hasn’t played since he was suspended for a high shot on former teammate Joey Manu. He has not been named to play in this weekend’s Charity Shield clash with the Dragons despite earlier getting the green light to be involved.
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Yet that team list news was overshadowed yesterday afternoon when it was revealed that the superstar would get a concession from the NRL, freeing him to return for the Rabbitohs’ Round 2 clash with the Storm.
That will put him on the field a week earlier than expected, and potentially cool some of the hype around the Bunnies’ Round 3 clash with the Roosters, who were filthy at him after the Manu tackle.
Mitchell is a polarising figure in sport, to say the least. Capable of plays that few others, if any can make, but equally capable of a rush of blood to the head, like with Manu or with David Nofoaluma earlier in the season.
He refers to his decision to stay with the team – and now-departed coach Wayne Bennett – through the finals series, despite not being able to play, as one of the catalysts for his personal growth.
“I put my hand up to stay in the bubble and be there for the boys – and I knew if I’d called it quits and kicked stones and got back to Taree and my comfort zone, I wouldn’t have grown as a man,” Mitchell told Wide World of Sports.
He added that his teammates appreciated his consoling presence after that heartbreaking grand final loss to Penrith.
“It’s all about balance between on and off-field. I’m privileged to work that out early, I’m only 24.”
Mitchell’s community work – including in Cairns last week – has been publicised, but while he remains apologetic for what happened last year, he’d much rather everyone just move on.
“You do ten things right, and one thing wrong and everyone focuses on the one thing,” he said.
“It fuels them more than it fuels me,” he added of critics.
“I’ve just learned not to comment, I don’t need to. People talk for me, I suppose – I appreciate the support I get, too, and I take a lot of positives out of the negatives.
“I appreciate everything that people go out of their way to do.
“Me as a person, I try to do my best and give back as much as I can and try to show my community that I’m the person that I am, and I don’t want to change for anyone”
He acknowledges there will always be critics regardless of how he matures and changes his behaviour – but equally, he knows he can’t prove them wrong until he gets back out on the field.
“It’s just jealousy mate,” Mitchell opines.
“They want to be a proud man and stand up for what they believe in but they can’t. They can’t get themselves out a rut and that’s pretty sad in itself.
“Sometimes I meet people and they go ‘you’re an alright bloke’. Come and meet me, have a yarn to me and I’ll tell you how I feel. I don’t hold grudges, I don’t care – as long as I can change people’s perceptions.”
There’s no doubt losing a grand final leaves a sour taste in a club’s mouth, but their returning fullback says it’s business as usual.
“Everyone’s trying to go one better, aren’t they?”
“Nothing changes, the fire keeps burning.”
The team was at Mitchell’s property for a pre-season camp that was abruptly cancelled when Tom Burgess tested positive to COVID-19 – another gesture that meant a lot to him.
“For them to come up there showed me a lot of respect as players and as mates – not many people ever get out of their comfort zone and it’s something I’ll cherish forever,” Mitchell said.
The fullback repeatedly mentioned the comfort zone – and encourages everyone to try and get out of theirs.
“It’s so important. You don’t grow otherwise. I’m under the scrutiny and the spotlight every day of the week but I grow from it and move on.”
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