- The Souths have only won one game all season
- Coach Jason Demetriou fights to save his job
- Latrell was criticized for lack of effort before the penalty
It’s “killing” suspended Latrell Mitchell to watch from the sidelines as South Sydney fight to save their season, says Rabbitohs prop and brother Shaq Mitchell.
Jason Demetriou’s future was seemingly at stake ahead of the Rabbitohs’ final game, but Mitchell was unable to help save his coach after being suspended for raising his forearm to the head of Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson one week before.
Souths’ brave losing performance against Cronulla was enough to spare Demetriou the ax in the team’s final start.
But the coach may not be out of the woods yet, with tough clashes against Melbourne and Penrith in the coming fortnights.
Superstar fullback Mitchell is excluded from those two key games as the 16th-placed Rabbitohs enter the battle for their coach and their season.
“He’ll tell you himself, he hates watching,” his older brother Shaq said of Mitchell.
‘He loves to play, he loves to jump with the boys.
‘It’s killing it right now, but it is what it is. She’s hit us on the chin and is getting us ready to speed up and hopefully when he gets back we’ll be flying.
Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs looks on during the round six NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks at Accor Stadium
Shaq Mitchell (left) with his brother Latrell (right) and Souths teammate Jack Wighton, pictured alongside the Indigenous All Stars in 2023.
Mitchell will be a crucial part of Souths’ resurgence if one comes, but is currently suspended
Mitchell said his brother had been ‘Mr. Energy’ at Heffron Park since he received his suspension and had particularly supported substitute fullback Jye Gray.
The diminutive Gray impressed during pre-season and made his NRL debut as Mitchell’s replacement in the loss to the Sharks.
‘He (Mitchell) is very enthusiastic, he brings energy. If everything starts to go down, he picks it up,” Shaq Mitchell said.
‘He’s been in the game for a while and helps Jye-Boy. I think it’s more about letting (Gray) play his game, just saying, ‘It’s good to play your game, don’t be like me, we’re two completely different players.’
As the Rabbitohs look to revive their campaign, speculation has arisen over Mitchell’s return to centres, where he played for the Sydney Roosters in their 2018 and 2019 premierships.
Such a move could reinvigorate Mitchell after a lackluster start to the year and allow the highly-rated Gray to remain with the team long-term.
Mitchell’s older brother addressed the details of who should play fullback, but hoped there could be room for both men in the Rabbitohs squad once Latrell returned in round 10.
“Surely (Gray) should fit in there,” he said.
‘Having them both on the same side is going to be very dangerous. You’ve got the power play (Mitchell) and you’ve also got the speedster (Gray).’
Shaq Mitchell said it felt “amazing” to be closing in on a contract extension with the Rabbitohs, who gave him his debut at the age of 26 two seasons ago.
“I seriously don’t want to go anywhere,” he said.