South Sydney are seeing banned superstar Latrell Mitchell as a Tom Trbojevic clone as they zero in on a preliminary clash with Manly on Friday night.
Some of Mitchell’s teammates have revealed the gun Rabbitohs fullback is acting as Trbojevic on the training deck, as Wayne Bennett’s men prepare to nullify the Dally M Medal favourite at Lang Park.
Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook has given an insight into the role Mitchell has played as, in the words of Nine sports presenter Cameron Williams, “a body double”.
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“We’ve got a young fullback here who’s not too bad and has a bit of free time on his hands at the moment in Latrell,” Cook laughed.
“He’s been quite a handful at training but that’s what we want. This is where the other players in the squad become so important.”
Rabbitohs back-rower Cameron Murray has found a positive in Mitchell’s six-game suspension, dealt out by the match review committee for a brutal shot on Roosters centre Joseph Manu in August.
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“I guess the silver lining of the situation that we’re in with Latrell is he can sort of slot in there in the reserves and pretty accurately act as the Tommy Turbo for us,” Murray said.
Trbojevic and South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker are both in the running for this year’s Dally M Medal and Rugby League Players Association Players’ Champion award, with the duo being revealed among the contenders for the prized individual gongs.
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Walker is in awe of the season Trbojevic has produced.
“He’s had an outstanding year this year,” Walker said.
“Not many teams have been successful (against him).
“I don’t think you can stop him; I suppose you just have to limit that possession game.”
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