Brandon Smith once famously mocked Latrell Mitchell on the sideline after Melbourne defeated South Sydney in a golden-point thriller.
Now Smith has declared he and Mitchell have become good friends, and there will be no issues when they are expected to become Souths teammates next week.
Brandon Smith mocking future teammate Latrell Mitchell after a game in 2022.Credit: NRL
In fact, one of the first people Smith reached out to when the Bondi love dried up – and bitter rivals Souths showed interest – was fellow Rooster-turned-Rabbit Mitchell.
On the same day Souths coach Wayne Bennett threw his support behind Mitchell returning to the NSW Origin arena – and how “everyone in Queensland will be happy if he doesn’t play” – Smith said the post-match scenes involving Mitchell after a round-two win in 2022 were well and truly buried.
Mitchell put his hand to his ear to silence the crowd after he had kicked a two-point field-goal against the Storm at AAMI Park to force the game into golden point. But when Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen later kicked the winning drop-goal, TV cameras captured a smiling Smith on the sidelines, mimicking Mitchell.
Souths officials were privately fuming with the sledge, especially given Smith was injured and played no part in the win.
Latrell Mitchell at training this weekCredit: Getty Images
Smith on Thursday said Mitchell had reached out to him when he had been struggling on more than one occasion in Melbourne.
“I went through my dramas with Melbourne, and he was one of the guys that was the first to message me, one of the first to offer me a hand in any way,” Smith said of Mitchell.
“I didn’t have the highest opinion of him at the time. I just didn’t think that I meant anything to him at that point.
“And to be honest, there’s probably people that didn’t message me that I thought would. So for him to do such a thing, from there on, we’ve kept in contact, and we get along really well.
“It’s warming to be able to go to a club with that guy. I know someone in that club cares for me deeply, and Latrell’s one of them. That’s pretty cool to say.
“I think there’s a lot more to Latrell Mitchell than people think.
“That sideline ‘piss take’ … yeah he didn’t care, he shut me down pretty quickly. We’re all good.”
Bennett was more than backing himself to deal with another big personality under the Heffron Park roof.
“We have a few big personalities here, so he won’t be out of place,” Bennett said of Smith.
Brandon Smith is set to leave the Roosters for South Sydney.Credit: Getty
“I’m sure they’ll get along well. We’ll make that happen.
“Hopefully [the deal] will get sorted out over the weekend, and Brandon will know where he stands. Hopefully he will be here with us.
“He’ll be wanted here. We’ll welcome him with open arms.”
Mitchell returns from a one-match ban against the Broncos on Friday night, and has just two weeks to put his name back in the Origin centre conversation.
Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton, Manly’s Tom Trbojevic and Newcastle’s Bradman Best, along with Mitchell, are the four players vying for two spots ahead of the Origin opener on May 28.
Bennett is a proud Queenslander, but when asked about Mitchell seemingly dropping down the unofficial pecking order when it came to the Blues selection debate, said: “I can tell you that everyone in Queensland will be happy if he doesn’t play for NSW.
“They can make up their own minds. But if he was a Queenslander, he’d definitely be playing for Queensland.”
Mitchell thrives in big games, but Bennett was quick to point out: “He’s pretty good at club level, too. He’s really good at club level. He brings something most players don’t have.”
Halfback Jamie Humphreys returns from a hamstring injury against Brisbane, and Bennett loved the fact Humphreys, Jayden Sullivan and Mitchell’s booming left boot gave them options in attack at Accor Stadium as Souths look to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds won a premiership with Souths, and there is plenty of interest in what he does beyond this season, with Bennett hoping the little playmaker plays on if he feels like he can.
“You don’t want to have regrets in retirement,” Bennett said. “If he feels like he can play on, and he knows himself better than anyone, I’d encourage him to play.”
