Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker in major re-signing boost for Souths

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have joined Damien Cook in re-signing with South Sydney in a major boost for the Rabbitohs. On Wednesday, the Rabbitohs announced that Mitchell would be staying put until at least the end of 2027, while re-signing Walker on a two-year extension.

The fullback and five-eighth's previous contracts expired at the end of 2023, however they both shunned offers from rival clubs to stay with the Bunnies. Mitchell and Walker formed a lethal left-edge combination for Souths in 2022 after the former returned from a hamstring injury to steer his side to the semi-finals.

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"I'm definitely grateful to be able to set my future in concrete here," Mitchell told reporters on Wednesday. "I want to be here for the rest of my career. I definitely feel at home here and that's all that matters to me - that home feeling. It's a pretty emotional day.

“It really does feel like family here and I know my partner Brielle and our girls feel the same. I’ve had opportunities here that I would never have had at other clubs, and we have more opportunities ahead of us in the future. I know I can express myself here, on and off the field, and I’m supported by everyone from the club and the communities we represent."

Walker will be 35 by the time his new deal runs out. But having not made his NRL debut until 2016, he said he did not intend it to be his last.

"Don't write me off," he said. "I started a little bit later, it'll probably help prolong my career a bit. I've let myself grow into the body and wasn't taking the hits at age 18 and 19. Touch wood. We'll see what happens.

“I don’t think there was any option to leave, I just find Souths are like home. I didn’t really get what South Sydney was about until I came to the club, because I wasn’t a supporter of the Rabbitohs, I didn’t know the history, didn’t know anything about it.

“Once you walk through the doors of Souths, you just have this feeling, it’s hard to describe, it’s similar to my journey. Once I debuted, I loved everything about the club, what they do in the local community, it’s a special place to be a part of.”

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Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said the re-signings marked a significant day for the club. "They're two players who influence the people around them, on the field and off the field," he said. "They're two players that you know in big games can deliver. I'm really pleased for these players and the club to be able to set their futures up."

Mitchell and Walker's re-signings come after star hooker Cook also extended his deal last week. Cook will now be at the Rabbitohs until at least the end of 2025.

"I'm really excited about signing this new deal as I know we have some great opportunities in front of us over the next few years," Cook said.

The Rabbitohs are the only side in the NRL to have qualified for the preliminary finals in each of the last five seasons. However they have no premierships to show for that consistency.

"We can be proud of what we've done and what we've achieved," Walker said. "But at the end of the day we haven't got that premiership and that's what we're chasing."

with AAP

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