There wasn’t a dry eye beneath the main grandstand at Redfern Oval on Thursday morning when Latrell Mitchell was presented with his 150th jersey by his older brother Shaquai.
Even Mitchell’s father, Matt, travelled to Sydney for the special occasion, and lined up with the young fans who line the fence after most training sessions for an autograph or photo with the star fullback.
Shaquai told the Herald he did his best to keep his emotions in check but could not help shedding a tear, followed by his brother, then the rest of the Souths playing group and coaching staff.
“I’ve seen what ‘Trell’ has been through his whole career, he’s come a long way as a person and man – it’s a journey you can’t explain without a few tears in the eye,” Shaquai said.
“He’s always called me his idol and mentor, but that’s flipped now – in my eyes he’s my idol because of what he has done in the game.
“I didn’t want to tear up because it’s his day, but I couldn’t help myself because of how far he has come along.
Mr 150: Latrell Mitchell is greeted by his father, Matt, after Souths training on ThursdayCredit: Christian Nicolussi/SMH
“He teared up as well – he’ll tell you he’s good when it comes to the waterworks.
“Since he’s come to the Rabbitohs it hasn’t been smooth sailing with injuries and suspensions, but the club has stuck by him, and he wants to perform and play at his best to repay the club for giving him this opportunity to live his dream.”
At his best, Latrell is unstoppable on the field, but also has never been afraid to call out racism and injustice off it, which has often made him a target with rival fans and trolls.
Last month he was the subject of an alleged racial taunt at BlueBet Stadium, with the young fan in question since issued a warning by NSW police.
Shaquai Mitchell presented his younger brother with his milestone jersey on Thursday.Credit: Sunny Brar/South Sydney Rabbitohs
Shaquai, who is out injured with a foot injury, said he and Mitchell, or ‘Flip’ as he was known growing up in Taree, were exposed to racism when they were young, with Shaquai often forced to carry his birth certificate to every game to appease the parents of the young children he would run over the top of.
Matt Mitchell, who sat on the bench for six first-grade games at Souths in the early 1990s said after training: “Being here at Redfern, where my journey started, and for the boys now … I never put pressure on them, I never even wanted them to play rugby league, but to see them play one game was a massive achievement – [and for Latrell] to play 150, it’s special.”
Coach Jason Demetriou told the Herald few in the game had achieved as much as Mitchell in such a short period of time.
“Put all the rubbish that’s said about him aside, he’s a dual premiership winner, an elite Origin player, a World Cup winner, now he’s a South Sydney player, and we love having him here,” Demetriou said.
Latrell Mitchell will prove a handful for Canterbury at Accor Stadium.Credit: Getty Images
As for the scenes before the captain’s run ahead of the Good Friday clash with Canterbury, Demetriou said: “I asked the players at the start of the year what an enjoyable season looks like to them. The easiest thing to say is ‘winning’, which is an outcome that comes off the back of a long journey.
“But along the way there are really exciting things you get to experience as a group, tribute jerseys, having someone like Shaq present to his little brother is special, and the boys feed off that.
“A lot of our boys don’t mind shedding a tear. They’re an emotional group. It’s the modern man. They get me welling up all the time. But they are the beautiful moments, and I love sharing them with the boys.”
Souths legend Bob McCarthy, who put his back out when he picked up the coffin at John Sattler’s funeral last Friday, was spotted at training sitting next to boxing royalty Johnny Lewis.
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