Latrell Mitchell will return from a three-game suspension on Saturday — at a time when his presence has never been more important.
Mitchell hasn’t been sighted since the Rabbitohs’ Round 5 loss to the Warriors, in which he was put on report for a stray elbow to the face of Shaun Johnson.
While he’s been sidelined, the Rabbitohs slumped to last on the ladder and coach Jason Demetriou was sacked.
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The squad has been hit hard by injuries too with Cameron Murray, Dean Hawkins, Isaiah Tass and Jye Gray the latest players to join the mounting list.
Interim coach Ben Hornby has scrambled to fill holes for this week’s clash with the Dragons. Dion Teaupa and Matt French will make their NRL debuts at halfback and off the bench respectively, while mid-season signing Gehamat Shibasaki will play on the wing.
It makes Mitchell’s return even more important and there’s no doubt all eyes will be on him come Saturday.
“I’m really keen to see how Latrell responds. This period of him being out of the game, he’s missed all the turmoil. It’s now on Latrell,” News Corp journalist Dave Riccio said on NRL 360.
Brent Read agreed saying: “He needs to lead by example. He needs to come back, get involved and try and inspire this team.”
Champion forward James Graham believes Mitchell’s presence — both at training and during the game — is going to be “massive” for the new-look Rabbitohs.
“If you look at some of the new names… They’re going to look to Latrell and see what attitude he packs, what sort of game he brings,” Graham said on NRL 360.
“He has the ability to be so infectious on a group that is so down on confidence, that are dejected and deflated, looking and thinking about who’s coming in next year — almost playing for yourself.
“He is so important. His first touch of the football this weekend is going to be so important on the impact it’s going to have in and around this team.
“Also his attitude at training is going to be massive for these people that are coming in to an awful situation. It’s on him… a massive role.”
And in his return, there’s one thing NRL 360 host Braith Anasta wants to see Mitchell do.
“I’d like him to just get the ball off that kick-return and run it. That is the trigger,” he said.
“If I’m his coach, (I’d say) ‘can you just catch it and run? Don’t look for your wingers, just run.’
“He can beat two or three defenders, he attracts two or three defenders and then it opens it up for everyone else. It frustrates me that he looks for that pass all the time.”
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