Latrell Mitchell’s Dominance on the Field
Latrell Mitchell is currently at the peak of his abilities, and a long-time State of Origin rival has highlighted just how formidable he is when he’s in top form. Dane Gagai faced off against the South Sydney centre on Sunday and was impressed by Mitchell’s “farmer’s strength” after Newcastle narrowly won the match.
The image of Mitchell overpowering Kalyn Ponga for a late try will undoubtedly be featured on highlight reels throughout the season. Additionally, his effort to convert his own four-pointer from the sideline while being booed by over 23,000 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium showcased his determination. He also made a crucial dive into the corner during one of the final plays of the game, though he came up short as the Knights managed to secure a 42-38 victory.
To fully grasp how well Mitchell is performing, especially in attack, it’s worth noting that he has scored two more points than the entire St George Illawarra team has managed after eight games.
“He’s just a big, powerful athlete with good footwork and speed,” Gagai said about Mitchell. “When he gets going, he’s so hard to handle. You need numbers in tackles with him.”
“I don’t know how much he weighs on the scales, but he’s pure muscle and has that farmer’s strength. He’s also got feet like he weighs 70kg, he’s got those sharp feet, but can run over you when he wants to.
“In the first half, we attacked a fair bit down our right edge and tried to get a bit of fatigue into them. That second half, we had a few errors, penalties, and once Latrell gets his legs under him, and he’s fresh, he’s a bloody handful.”
Souths teammate Campbell Graham plays on the opposite side of the field to Mitchell, but never gets tired of watching Mitchell perform.
“He’s a freak, I truly think he’s the best centre in the game and in the world,” Graham said. “He shows that every week. Latrell and Cody [Walker] single-handedly got us back into the game [against Newcastle]. He’s a pleasure to watch from the other side – it’s nice to be in the same team as a player of his calibre.”
Career Shift and Continued Success
Souths coach Wayne Bennett moved Mitchell from fullback to centre during the off-season, allowing Jye Gray to take over the No.1 jersey and Mitchell to return to his preferred left side of the field.
A week earlier against Melbourne, Mitchell had no trouble distributing the ball quickly to Alex Johnston for a try, and he also kicked a two-point field-goal. Before that, Mitchell dominated another Queenslander, Valentine Holmes, with a four-try performance against the Dragons. He scored in Perth despite facing five Canberra players, and on Good Friday, he picked up a loose ball and scored a four-pointer while moving at high speed.
As Bennett himself noted after the loss to the Knights: “I hope people enjoy his skill level, because he’s rare.”
Consistent Performance Despite Challenges
Mitchell was in excellent form in 2020 before his season was cut short due to a hamstring injury. He was dynamite in 2021, but a heavy ban for his famous tackle on Roosters centre Joey Manu affected his performance. However, he played a crucial role in Souths’ late-season surge in 2022.
Injuries plagued Mitchell in 2023, 2024, and last year, but this season, he looks fit and gaining confidence with each performance.
Roosters skipper James Tedesco, another star of the game who has played with and against Mitchell, has praised his form.
“The whole year he’s been in that dominant form – Latrell is that dominant figure when he’s out there in the centres and one on one,” Tedesco said. “He’s had a few injuries, but this year he looks fit, and looks like he’s building really well.”
