- Slater tells Mitchell to start enjoying his football
- The Rabbitohs have had a horror start to the season
- Mitchell returns from three-game suspension
Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater has a telling message for Latrell Mitchell as the Rabbitohs fullback returns from a three-game suspension on Saturday.
Mitchell has not played since Souths’ loss to the Warriors, in which he was suspended for elbowing Shaun Johnson in the face.
While he was out, coach Jason Demetriou was sacked and his team fell to the bottom of the NRL ladder.
Souths also have a growing list of players who are sidelined due to injuries, including Cam Murray, Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Tass and Jye Gray.
“He just goes and plays football, that’s what he does best, he enjoys it,” he said on the Billy Slater Podcast earlier in the week.
Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell returns from three-game suspension on Saturday
Billy Slater wants the Souths superstar to go out and have fun playing football
“He’s a football player and I’m sure he’s looking forward to getting out and having some fun.” He smiles, go and have fun, he plays a little football.
“He was quite frustrated right before he was suspended and you could see that in some of his actions on the field.
“His team has been in a hole and he hasn’t played his best football, but I think the game is better when Latrell is back, having fun and playing well.”
The 26-year-old certainly needs to get Souths back on track, and NRL great Braith Anasta believes Mitchell needs to lead from the front on a kick return.
‘I wish he would just take the ball on that kick return and run it. That’s the trigger,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
‘If I were his coach, (I’d say) ‘can you just catch him and run?’ Don’t look for your ends, he just runs.’
“He can beat two or three defenders, he draws in two or three defenders and then he opens the way for everyone else.” “It frustrates me that he looks for that pass all the time.”
Football great James Graham also believes Mitchell’s attitude in the match will be crucial.
While Mitchell was away, coach Jason Demetriou was sacked and his team fell to the bottom of the NRL ladder.
“If you look at some of the new names… They’re going to look at Latrell and see what attitude he has, what type of game he brings,” Graham said.
“He has the ability to be so contagious in a group that has so much confidence, that is despondent and deflated, looking and thinking about who is coming next year, almost playing for yourself.”
‘He is very important. His first touch of football this weekend will be very important because of the impact he will have in and around this team.
Also, your attitude in training will be huge for these people who are coming into a terrible situation. It’s up to him… a huge role.’