Extending superstar Latrell Mitchell’s mega contract has been described as “irresponsible” while question marks remain over South Sydney’s roster after they bowed out in week one of the finals with a whimper.
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Mitchell is contracted to the end of 2027 at Souths and is reportedly earning around $1.1 million per season.
But when he signed that deal he was paid ‘fullback money’.
The problem is, he’s now looking like he’ll permanently finish his career in the centres where he’s rated arguably the best in the world when fit and firing.
Mitchell, for the third season in a row, played less than 13 games for Souths after being hampered by various injuries including a nerve issue which kept him out for months.
Therefore, the Rabbitohs are now grappling with justifying paying an injury-prone player more than a million dollars a season to play in the outside backs.
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Journalist Paul Crawley said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night that Souths should have a good think about Mitchell’s future at the club after another disappointing season.
“He needs to find a way to get on top of things because he’s off contract on November 1. It would be irresponsible of South Sydney to make an offer to Latrell any time soon, because you can’t trust him on what’s been there in the past,” Crawley said.
“I don’t think you can offer him the deal that he’s obviously worth at his best right now. I think it would be irresponsible.
“If he wants to stay at Souths, and they want to keep him, well then he has to come out next year and say, ‘this is as fit as I’ve been, and this is the reason why you should give me that extension’.”
Crawley explained that if Mitchell wanted a mega deal, he may even have to move to a struggling club like the Tigers who would be prepared to pay overs to get the star.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta questioned whether Souths would be brave enough to let Mitchell go.
“What you’re saying is a massive call about Latrell. Do you think that they would make that call?” Anasta asked.
“I think South Sydney would do everything they can to give Latrell the opportunity to stay.”
“But I’m saying it would be irresponsible right now to offer Latrell an extension on what we’ve seen because if that’s going to be your marquee man, he’s got to be on the field and he’s got to be fit,” Crawley replied.
Latrell Mitchell’s future at Souths is in the spotlight.Source: News Corp Australia
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Fellow journalist Dave Riccio pointed to the fact that Souths have salary cap issues regarding which players are being paid the most.
The more successful clubs over the years have invested large sums of their cap in their spine players, but Souths currently have minimal locked into their playmakers or fullbacks.
Mitchell (centre), Cameron Murray (lock) and the incoming Payne Haas (front row) are all taking up a big chunk of the cap.
“It’s heading towards a serious decision that needs to be made by the Bunnies, Latrell or no Latrell, because of their salary cap. They don’t have any of their big money signed up in the halves or the spine,” Riccio said.
“I think it leads to a lot of questions moving forward about this South Sydney roster,” Crawley added.
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Anasta suggested that Souths should make a “massive” play for a half like Tom Dearden who is rumoured to be wanting out of the Cowboys for a move to Sydney for family reasons.
One thing Souths can address for next year however is their fitness levels.
The Knights came home strong in their finals win over the Bunnies last week after coach Justin Holbrook told his side they would.
“I was on the sideline and Holbrook’s halftime comments to the Newcastle Knights was ‘boys stay in the fight, we are fitter than them. We will finish over the top of them’. The knights knew it and they did,” Riccio said.
“I don’t think they’re fit enough, you look at their players, and they are too slow across the park, and they’ve got to be faster,” Anasta added.
“It’s hard to believe a Wayne Bennett side is not fit enough because that’s been Wayne’s master stroke,” Gorden Tallis added.