Latrell Mitchell has expressed his disappointment that rugby league talent scouts snubbed the Koori Knockout competition, describing it as a missed opportunity to nurture emerging stars.
The tournament returned for its 50th edition after a two-year COVID-enforced hiatus on the NSW south coast over the long weekend. NRL stars including Mitchell, Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Tyrell Sloan mixed with park footballers as more than 150 teams – across the men’s women’s and junior tournaments – vied for bragging rights.
Mitchell played alongside former Dally M medallist Ben Barba for Walgett, who were beaten in the final by the Newcastle All Blacks.
Mitchell enjoyed the experience of playing in the event for the first time since 2017, labelling it the perfect way to flush away the disappointment of South Sydney’s preliminary final loss while preparing for his World Cup commitments with the Kangaroos.
Speaking in Sydney at a promotion for a No Limit fight night at Newcastle, headlined by Nikita Tszyu’s clash with Darkon Dryden, Mitchell and Australian teammate Jack Wighton were stunned that talent spotters didn’t attend.
“You see the talent all weekend. Even the women’s game, there’s a great pathway there,” Mitchell said.
Latrell Mitchell wants Indigenous talent to be nurtured.Credit:Getty Images
“It’s pretty disappointing to see no NRL scout went down there to have a look. They need to start looking at the bigger picture, start planning for these things.
“I really enjoyed the footy. The big part of the Knockout is watching that, seeing what talent we have.
“That’s why I go down to watch as well, to see what grassroots [talent] we have coming through with the next generation.”
Asked if it was a missed opportunity for clubs to identify talent, the Rabbitohs fullback said: “One-hundred per cent. They should have been there, knocking on the gate to get in, buying extra tickets for everyone else to get in.
“At the end of the day, it’s pretty disappointing that nobody got down there.”
Canberra star Wighton added: “It’s crazy. Some of the best players in the NRL are Indigenous and they got them all together, from all age groups.
“Some of the young kids are just looking for guidance and a pathway. There’s no better place to pick them up than these events.”
Mitchell, who flies out with the Kangaroos on Thursday, also had a shot at the NRL over how long it has taken the organisation to finalise a collective bargaining agreement with the Rugby League Players Association. The parties have been locked in negotiations all year, but are yet to land on an outcome as a raft of stars prepare to hit the open market.
“It’s pretty disappointing, we’ve had 12 months or however long it takes to have these conversations,” Mitchell said.
‘One-hundred per cent, [talent scouts] should have been there, knocking on the gate to get in, buying extra tickets for everyone else to get in.’
Latrell Mitchell on the Koori Knockout
“[NRL chief Andrew] Abdo actually came out and said he supports the playing group, supports everything else. Well that’s all words. That’s all good and all, but if you don’t put actions to words, that’s no good to us.
“For us as players, we need to stick together and stay unified. The RLPA are doing a great job there. For now it’s about getting that CBA done and making sure we get the right things. Like he said, we are the game and without us there is no game.
“For us now, it’s about supporting each other and making sure we get the right deal for ourselves and ensure we can grow the game going forward.”
Mitchell said there needed to be more certainty for players in the NRLW.
“They’re trying to grow their game and … they don’t have security there, especially with pregnancies and second jobs and whatnot,” he said.
“It’s disappointing to see there is nothing in place with them and definitely with grassroots footy coming through, there’s nothing in place for that.
“I don’t understand. We can talk the talk but the NRL needs to start walking the walk.”
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