- NRL guru confident he can get the best out of Latrell Mitchell
- Mitchell, 27, had an awful season in 2024, only played 11 NRL games
Incoming Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has declared Latrell Mitchell ‘will be our fullback’ in 2025 as the master mentor insists only an ‘idiot’ would try to change the way the scandal-hit star plays.
Bennett officially starts work at Souths on November 1, but the wheels are already well and truly in motion for his return.
Mitchell, 27, will need to produce in 2025 after a nightmare campaign that saw him play just 11 games due to injury and suspension.
Title favourites in the eyes of many pundits in the off-season, South Sydney finished a dismal second last, with coach Jason Demetriou sacked in April following 12 months of poor results.
Bennett, 74, has returned to the club after winding up his commitments at the Dolphins – and knows he has a playing roster that can challenge for a premiership.
The much maligned Mitchell will be a key figure, and the supercoach expects his no.1 to consistently showcase his talent.
But don’t expect to see wholesale changes from the Indigenous role model.
‘I’m not an idiot,’ Bennett told News Corp. ‘I won’t be changing Latrell. I will just let him play, that’s what he does best.
Incoming Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has revealed Latrell Mitchell (pictured together) ‘will be our fullback’ in 2025 as the master mentor looks to get the scandal-plagued NRL superstar’s career back on track
Mitchell, 27, will need to produce in 2025 after a nightmare campaign that saw him play just 11 games due to injury and suspension – and cop a fine and playing ban after being photographed with a mystery white substance (pictured)
Bennett, 74, has returned to the club after winding up his commitments at the Dolphins – and knows he has a roster that can challenge for a premiership
Souths will be praying that reuniting Mitchell (pictured) with the master mentor will see him return to top form – and stay out of trouble
‘He will start pre-season with everyone else … Latrell will be our fullback.
‘I’m looking forward to reuniting with Latrell and all the guys.’
Mitchell won’t look back at 2024 with much fondness on and off the field.
He has been a magnet for controversy at times – he was suspended for three matches following a late elbow on Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson and then engaged in a war of words with Anthony Mundine which dragged on for weeks following the Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam racism saga.
Throw in his expletive-laden post game Triple M interview, his public disagreement with NRL 360 host Braith Anasta at a Sydney restaurant followed by his now infamous white powder photo from a Dubbo hotel room last month – and it understandable fed up club officials want to see drastic changes.
Mitchell will also sit out South Sydney’s first competition match of 2025 after he was handed a one-game ban from the NRL following the white powder saga.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest it was an illicit drug.
Bennett has also handed a lifeline to former Sea Eagles young gun Josh Schuster and confirmed Cody Walker will shift back to his preferred position of five-eighth.
