Wayne Bennett hasn’t had to sprinkle magic dust on Latrell Mitchell ahead of his NRL return this week . The Rabbitohs star has enough of that already.
But Mitchell’s aura does rub off on his teammates, lifting them to produce that little bit extra, the Rabbitohs coach believes.
“I think his presence is his greatest attribute, and the fact that he helps other people around him play well because of his presence,” says Bennett.
“After that, we all know what he can do, so I’m just looking forward to him getting back into it. But it can’t all happen in one game, one afternoon, so it will take three or four weeks to get back to where he wants to be.”
Bennett says Mitchell has matured as a man in the three years the coach was away from South Sydney, but admits that Friday night, when he comes up against bitter rivals the Roosters, will be his biggest test.
“He’s just grown up, accepted his responsibilities – young family, three young children – and I think its dawned on him that they need a good dad,” says Bennett.
Latrell Mitchell at South Sydney training this week.Credit: Steven Siewert
“He’s done that [grown up], he’s been showing you all that with the way that he’s physically presented himself, and he hasn’t been a headline for 12 months. He’s done great.”
In the past, things have tended to get a little tense when Mitchell has come up against his former club. Mitchell has been sin-binned three times in his past seven games against the Roosters, but Bennett is confident the 27-year-old can keep his emotions in check on Friday.
“I didn’t say it was a thing of the past, we’ve got to wait and see,” Bennett said. “I don’t want him in the sin-bin, I don’t want him sent off, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t see any reason why that will happen.”
Mitchell will line up in the centres on Friday night, while Jai Gray remains at fullback – a move Bennett confirmed was only temporary. Mitchell will take over the goalkicking duties from Jamie Humphreys.
With Campbell Graham, Tyrone Munro and Alex Johnston all in the casualty ward, Mitchell’s switch to the centres is down to necessity, while also providing him with the chance to ease back into the side.
“He’s [Latrell] understanding of it,” says Bennett. “We talked about it, I didn’t ram it down his throat – that wouldn’t work – so we had a conversation about it.
“He realises the situation we’re in. He’s happy to play there and come back through that position and move back to fullback when everything has settled down again … Latrell felt the left side was his best side and that’s where he’s played before in the centres. Jack [Wighton] is a great team man, and he said ‘I’ll go to the right’, and he’s happy as anything over there. So he’ll be good for us, Jack.”
The Rabbitohs have lost their past four games against the Roosters, but regardless of the result, Bennett says Mitchell’s return is great for the game.
“He’s wonderful for the game, but what he does on the football field is what makes him great, not the hysteria around him.”
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