Manchester: Latrell Mitchell has declared he wants to be the greatest Indigenous rugby league player of all time, and believes “politics” played a role in NSW selections this year.
Australia and Mitchell have been destroying teams at the World Cup and they’re red-hot favourites to beat New Zealand in their semi-final on Saturday morning AEDT.
Rabbitohs superstar Mitchell almost skipped the tournament to spend time on his farm, and it was only a shot at history that saw him board the flight to England.
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Mitchell made himself unavailable for Blues selection for the Origin decider this year – which NSW lost – and he contemplated doing the same for Australia.
But the Rabbitohs superstar told foxports.com.au he decided to join Mal Meninga’s squad as part of his quest to become the Indigenous GOAT.
“I definitely have a goal to be the best Indigenous player to ever play the game,” Mitchell told foxsports.com.au.
“I’m just proud to be a black fella and represent my heritage and it would be awesome to one day hear people say ‘Latrell Mitchell, the proudest black fella to ever play the game’.
“I was umming and ahhing (about playing at the World Cup)… but when Mal gave me the call I was ready to go.
“I was getting homesick here the first few weeks, I’ll be honest. But at the end of the day I’m here now and loving it.
“Foxx (Josh Addo-Carr) and Jack Wighton settled me in and we’re all in the same boat, coaches and staff included, we all had to sacrifice something and we did it for the love of the game and the biggest thing now is to lift the trophy and make it all worth it.”
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Kangaroos prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard will face the Kiwis on Saturday, five months after he was controversially dropped from the NSW side after the series opener.
“It’s a funny little game that Origin stuff and at the end of the day there’s too much politics in the game,” Mitchell said.
“I get caught up in it a bit, but you sort of have to roll with the punches.
“I’ve always thought (RCG) is that person you look to, to run the ball hard.. and I want to see him come off the back fence this week.
“He’s definitely a credit to himself in what he’s been able to do and what he’s been able to achieve.
“Now it’s just exciting for him just to get through this week and get ready to go against New Zealand.”
Campbell-Gillard’s axing was linked to a falling out with the Blues Penrith contingent, but RCG and Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo have been thick as thieves in Kangaroos camp.
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Mitchell has also been dropped by NSW coach Brad Fittler, back in 2019, and said the best way for RCG to force his way back into the side is to win the World Cup.
“I hope we’re both playing Blues next year but Freddie picks the team and he’ll definitely see how we’re performing over here,” Mitchell said.
A hamstring injury sidelined Mitchell for 12 weeks this year and the Rabbitohs fullback spent two months rehabilitating at a specialist facility in America.
Mitchell returned for the Bunnies in scintillating form and he said the trip overseas proved a game changer for his career.
Meninga and Mitchell’s agent George Rose both believe the Souths flyer came back in the best headspace of his life.
“They’re not wrong,” Mitchell said.
“I’ve learned a lot over the last sort of 12 to 24 months in myself and in my growth and I think the American trip that I did was an eye opener.
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“I took a lot out of that trip and where I wanted to be in my career, definitely.
“It’s a blessing and a curse to have an injury but it showed me what pathway I wanted to go down.”
Meninga believes Mitchell has found his representative voice on this tour and praised his impact on the group.
“I think he’s got a great sense of belonging and his contribution through the tour has been fantastic,” Meninga told foxsports.com.au.
“He’s got that aura about him and when he talks he talks sense, so it’s actually meaningful and purposeful for the group and he says it with great sincerity. There’s a lot of genuineness about him.
“I’ve been really impressed with the way he communicates, he’s very articulate.”
Meninga emphasised Mitchell’s impact on the field has been just as significant, with Australia’s left edge proving a nightmare for oppositions.
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“He’s got that ability to not just run over people but skill too,” he said.
“He’s bought into how we want to play and defensively he’s been really good, he’s been aggressive which we’re after.
“All the things we’ve asked of him, he’s doing.”
Mitchell was told of Mengina’s praise and the 25-year-old said he feels like a leader in the squad.
“I just say stuff when it needs to be said and I say stuff when I believe it and I’m passionate about it,” he said.
“The boys know that and when I talk I know they listen. But it’s vice versa, I love when the boys have chats to me.
“I’m definitely taking it upon myself to be a good leader. We’re here at the pinnacle of rugby league and it’s honestly been so good, we’re building relationships we’ll keep for the rest of our lives”.
Mitchell is currently on the open market for 2024 but is expected to pen a long-term extension with Souths after the World Cup.
