Latrell Mitchell has opened up on his conversations with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga over his World Cup selection amid his cameo in the Koori Knockout tournament.
Mitchell was a surprise starter at the annual tournament a week before the Kangaroos fly out to begin their World Cup defence in England.
Speaking with reporters at the No Limit Boxing promotion ahead of the Super Saturday Boxing Festival on October 8 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Mitchell is excited for the challenge of tyring to bring the World Cup home from England next month.
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“I think for us now it’s a massive challenge,” Mitchell said of the World Cup.
“I rang him (Meninga) up a few hours ago letting him know we were ready to travel over and do a job.
“I think for us now it’s about putting pride back into that Australian jersey.
“Mal gave me a call, it’s been a while and had a good yarn to him before we came here and yeah it’s very enjoyable and you can sort of feel that already in the camp.”
Mitchell revealed Meninga had no issue with him playing at the Koori Knockout despite the risk of getting injured before Australia’s World Cup defence.
“It was good to get out there with the Rose boys, they’ve done a lot for me and my family and they are my family, I can say that with true honesty,” Mitchell said.
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“I really enjoyed playing with Walgett Aboriginal Connections, me and my family feel welcomed since I’ve come to No Limit boxing.
“That week was something enjoyable, I haven’t played since 2017 and it was a bit of match fitness and I think Mal enjoyed it too, he was watching it from home he was telling me and I’m ready to go.”
After a long rugby league season, which ended with Souths’ loss in the preliminary final, Mitchell revealed his cameo at the Koori Knockout allowed him to rediscover his love for the game in its purest form at grassroots level.
“100% it just brings that joy back into why you do it,” Mitchell said.
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“We go there to put a smile on kids faces and get around the old elders and go up to their tent and take photos and get amongst them.
“Just for me it was about bringing that pride and passion back in myself after a long year like you said.
“Those four days were probably the most enjoyable days of the year.”
Mitchell revealed Meninga was supportive of his decision to play six games over four days at the tournament, which he believes helped keep him sharp after being knocked out of the finals.
“I think he (Mal) was sort of, he tried to ring me Friday and I was trying to prepare,” Mitchell said.
“I just needed to get out there and have a run and to get back into that centre field, it was really enjoyable.
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“He (Mal) sort of had a little giggle, like I said it was good to be a part of.
“There’s no worries in representing your mob, so it’s about bringing all that passion and pride into that one weekend, it’s been a long time coming.
“They’ve planned it over the last two years and obviously because of Covid they’ve pushed it back, but yeah it’s really enjoyable to be a part of.
“I was doing nothing out in the centres anyway so like I said a bit of fitness and just about getting around and getting that cultural connection again.”
Mitchell was disappointed there was no NRL scouts at the Koori Knockout and believes the competition deserves more credit for producing the next wave of rugby league superstars.
“You see the talent like all weekend even in the women’s game, the girls, it’s a great pathway there and I think that’s pretty disappointing to see no NRL scout went down there and had a look,” Mitchell said.
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“I think that you have got to start looking at a bigger picture and start planning for these things.
“I really enjoyed the footy and the thing about the Knockout is watching that and seeing what talent we have and that’s why I go down and watch as well to see what grassroots come through the next generations.”
Mitchell was pressed on if there was any scouts there eyeing the talent on show.
“No, I don’t think so,” Mitchell said.
“100% they should’ve been there knocking on the gate to get in and buying extra tickets for everyone else to get in.
“But at the end of the day it’s pretty disappointing to see that no one got down there.”
Mitchell also voiced his frustrations over the lack of clarity on the salary cap with the CBA yet to be finalised heading into the 2023 pre-season.
“It’s pretty disappointing we have 12 months or however long it takes to have these conversations and Abdo actually come out and said that he supports player groups and everything else but that’s all words,” Mitchell said.
“That’s all good and all but if you don’t put actions into words then it’s no good to us.
“For us and as players we have to stick together and stay in unity and RLPA are doing a great job there but I think for now it’s about getting that CBA done and making sure we get that right.
“He said that we are the game and for us it’s just about supporting each other and making sure we get the right deal for ourselves and ensure that we can grow the game moving forward.
“Women’s especially like they’re trying to grow their game and they’re not finding security there especially with pregnancies and what not and whatever they have to do.
“I think it’s a bit disappointing to see that nothing pays for them and definitely grassroots footy coming through nothing pays for that, so I just don’t understand because we talk and talk but they need to start to walk the walk.”
Mitchell revealed he wasn’t looking forward to the cold weather in the North of England at the World Cup.
“England yeah it’s cold, I’m trying to acclimatise now with the rain and that going so I can’t wait for it,” Mitchell said.
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Mitchell joked he would consider getting in the ring if George Rose was willing to pay up.
“If Georgie throws a couple of hundred dollars at us maybe,” Mitchell joked.
“Me and Jack (Wighton), no I’m not fighting Jack.”
Mitchell backed Nikita Tszyu to steal the show at the Boxing Festival on Saturday in Newcastle.
“I’m going to back my No Limit brother Nikita, he’s been doing really well,” Mitchell said.
“To be able to come from where he’s come from he’s certainly standing up for himself making his own name.
“You can’t go past his efforts and what he’s doing like you said previously how he feels the best he’s felt and I’m ready to watch that.”
