Huge Latrell Mitchell detail is revealed as life under Wayne Bennett begins at the Rabbitohs
The Rabbitohs fullback appears to have been putting in the hard work in the off-season.
Broncos great Corey Parker has claimed Latrell Mitchell's silence is a good omen having reported the fullback appears to be fit and firing ahead of the 2025 season as the club prepares for life under new coach Wayne Bennett. Mitchell ended his 2024 season under scrutiny after a rollercoaster season for both his state and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Mitchell starred for NSW in their Game 2 victory in State of Origin, before he suffered a foot injury not long after and didn't play again for the Rabbitohs. To make matters worse, Mitchell copped a one-game ban and $20,000 fine after the photo controversy that rocked the club.
And despite South Sydney's best efforts, the NRL ruled Mitchell wasn't allowed to serve the ban this season while inured. There has been lots of talk master-coach Bennett has a huge job at the Rabbitohs in trying to get the club back on track for 2025.
Bennett already said he would stand-by Mitchell heading into the new season and it appears the 27-year-old fullback has been hard at work on the off-season. Speaking on SEN Radio, Parker revealed the lack of news around Mitchell - after finding himself under constant scrutiny in 2024 - is only good news for the Rabbitohs fullback.
And he also claimed he saw photos of Mitchell with his family recently and the fullback was looking fit ahead of pre-season with new coach Bennett. "I am actually pleased with what I have seen, and what I have not seen, from Latrell," Parker said.
"I saw a bunch of photos the other day...he looked extremely trim. He looked fit. Hopefully there are some really good things to come. Obviously Wayne's had a chat to him. But I don't dislike the fact I haven't heard Latrell come out and say things. Keep your nose down, Latrell."
Mitchell could only return to training towards the end of the season due to his foot injury. The Rabbitohs attempted to prove his fitness to the NRL so he could serve his one-game ban before the 2025 season. While the NRL ruled Mitchell will have to serve his ban in 2025, the fullback appears to have kept himself in shape with plenty to prove in the upcoming season to new coach Bennett.
The master-coach is known for his no frills attitude and was brought back in to help steer the Rabbitohs back into the top eight after missing out in back-to-back seasons. Mal Meninga did not select Mitchell for the Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championship having deemed fitness was an issue. This appears to have worked in Mitchell and the Rabbitohs' favour with reports the fullback is going to enter the new season with a point to prove.
Latrell Mitchell misses Rabbitohs awards
Unfortunately for the fullback, he wasn't able to attend South Sydney's end-of-year awards night and see off his friend Damien Cook, before he joins the Dragons. Mitchell had a valid reason for skipping the event.
Mitchell will also miss the opening game of the season under Bennett having missed out on Kangaroos selection in 2025. Meninga opted against selecting the NSW centre because of his lack of fitness after injuring his foot.
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“He just hasn’t played any footy really (to be considered),” Meninga told SEN Radio ahead of the Kangaroos squad announcement. "In my mind, it’s important that he gets himself fit and healthy. Apparently he’s going to play in our First Nations knockouts (Koori knockout competition), but I think he needs a really good off-season. Let’s hope and pray that he has an injury-less season and plays really well.
“This year’s (finals) are important. The thing that I’m starting to understand about representative football, particularly around the back of the year, the domestic season is such a long season and we’ve got a lot of players carrying injuries that could probably threaten their season, so we’ve got a lot of those playing in the finals."
