Souths, Latrell blame Roosters for backlash
Danny Weidler
By Danny Weidler
February 27, 2022 — 5.30am
Latrell Mitchell said a lot this week, but the line that should be a concern for the game and the NRL is his belief that he is not supported, and almost a loner, in rugby league.
Mitchell made his views known on the state of the game, in particular that the aggression had gone out of rugby league and that we “may as well play Oztag”. Those thoughts are valid and controversial at the same time.
They echo what players say privately, but they are headline worthy because of Mitchell’s last act on the field: an unfortunate shot on his close mate Joey Manu that resulted in a major injury for the Roosters superstar and left Mitchell with a six-game ban.
The pile-on that followed the Mitchell-Manu incident was unprecedented. Mitchell was treated like a criminal in some quarters, some even saying he did it deliberately. The commentary around it ended some long-term friendships in the game. And here is where Mitchell feels alone.
“I never had many mates anyway,” was his response to a question about finding out who his supporters really are.
Souths and Mitchell are well aware of the power of the Roosters and the influence they have over sections of the media. The club – or individuals at it – are experts at back-grounding the media, and they benefit enormously from those relationships.
Mitchell and Souths believe that influence was used to attack the star fullback; that any chance the tackle could have been viewed as an accident was overrun by the Roosters pushing another version of events in the media. That’s why Mitchell feels isolated.
Then there is another layer. Mitchell’s departure from the Roosters following their 2019 premiership still angers many at Bondi Junction. Some believe a third straight title in 2020 was achievable with him in their line-up.
When I spoke to Mitchell during the week, he made the observation that “there’s a bit of fuel there that youse used against me”. It’s clear Mitchell has trust issues with the media and, in some instances, he has valid concerns. Mitchell didn’t like the way my story was promoted or presented about him having a go at the NRL – and he is entitled to feel like that.
Of the 15 interviews Mitchell did on Tuesday, it would be hard to find a journalist who did not appreciate that he fronted up and spoke from the heart. It was a mature option from Mitchell, who, in the past, has done his best to avoid the media. He also knows the power of the media, and his management has signed him up to Fox Sports, an organisation he has had issues with.
Fox was less than thrilled that Mitchell gave his best views to rivals, but Mitchell and Souths know if he is in a battle, sometimes it’s good to have an ally. It is hard to forget the rage of some Roosters in round 24 last year. It all sets up for a blockbuster round-three clash.