Latrell Mitchell has heard all the jeers over the past few months.
As he stands in front of an artwork painted by uncle, Maurice Longbottom, footy is the last thing on his mind.
“I’m just trying to show people that I’m not a bad bloke off the field,” he said.
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Mitchell has made the journey from Sydney to promote his foray into the world of cryptocurrency. He is partnering with NFT platform Stadio to promote tokens based off his uncle’s paintings, as well as his own likeness.
The 24-year-old said his clothing brand will be ready to launch soon as, and it’s all part of his quest to show people that he’s more than a football player.
“I don’t want to be like the fellas before me that don’t have nothing to show for it … I’m the first person in my family to own a property, so I’m pretty proud of that,” he said.
“The potential to take your career and use it as best you can is endless.”
Like many others in the crypto space, the Rabbitohs fullback is learning on the fly about the burgeoning technology, which has captured the interests of many young athletes over the past year.
“It’s a big thing all over the world … I’m just learning on the way,” Mitchell said.
The exact process isn’t clear yet, but Mitchell has signed on to promote his uncle’s creations as the first-ever Indigenous artwork to employ blockchain technology.
“That’s something I’m proud of, I love my people, I love my culture – it’s a different way of being a modern day blackfulla I suppose,” he said.
It’s been a eventful two years in red and green for the Rabbitohs star since he made the switch from arch-rivals the Roosters.
The former Rooster became public enemy number one after his hit on Joseph Manu rubbed him out of Souths’ title push, which ultimately fell at the final hurdle.
The discourse around Mitchell’s actions was constant for weeks, and with that came a torrent of abuse – much of it racially based.
“It’s going to be a long time before we stamp it out of our game – you still get it here and there but at the end of the day, people are starting to take a stand,” he said.
“It’s slowing down but we’ve got a long way to go.”
But it’s a new era at Redfern and with no Wayne Bennett and Adam Reynolds, can the club fill those holes?
“I’m obviously going to miss the big fella because he’s got a lot of experience in the game and he’s the greatest coach of all,” Mitchell said.
He travelled from his property in Taree to Sydney – and mentioned that new coach Jason Demetriou had actually been to the farm several times.
“He showed me a lot of respect by doing that – I think he loved it more than me,” he said.
“He’s really enjoyable bloke to get to know.”
As for his departed halfback and skipper, Mitchell said Reynolds would “always be” a Rabbitoh and that he wished him well – before ruling himself out of the captaincy race for Souths in 2022.
“I’ve always seen myself as a leader in the game and to lead a club is something I’d obviously put my hand up for, but it’s not my time yet,” he said.
It’s expected to be one of either Cody Walker, Cameron Murray or Damien Cook to be handed the coveted role.
“There’s a lot of great leaders in our club. I just want to focus on my footy and keep winning games and get myself right before I can take that next step,” he said.
Mitchell has been spending his time on the farm – with a few new cows coming courtesy of Wayne Bennett – and is due back at training in January.
He may have been slightly teasing reporters when asked about the option the club had to keep Blake Taaffe at fullback, and for himself to move elsewhere.
“I’m pretty interested in another position but I won’t go there yet,” he said. “I’m joking – I love fullback, I just enjoy it. I think I’ve got a big impact at the back.”
Taaffe filled in admirably in the number one jersey during the Bunnies finals charge, with mentor Mitchell watching from the sidelines.
He said the “old Latrell” would have gunned it back to Taree after his suspension.
“I thought I’d stick around and help mentor [Taaffe] and get his confidence. I know what type of player he is,” he said.
Mitchell scoffed when asked about his first game post-suspension being against the Roosters, as though it were pure coincedence. But he’s embracing the role he plays in what’s now as much an entertainment product as a sport.
“People want to see the games, it’s going to happen eventually, so why not put it when I come back?” he said.
“it’s a game of footy, it is what it is. I’ve had to move on now and get past all the criticism I’ve copped but that’s the game we play.”
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