NRL fans and journalists are debating South Sydney’s decision to keep Latrell Mitchell at centre and promote Matt Dufty to take Jye Gray’s position at fullback. And veteran journo Paul Kent has gone as far as to label it ‘disturbing’ if Wayne Bennett doesn’t think Mitchell is fit enough to play No.1.
Gray is sidelined with an AC joint injury in his shoulder, and is expected to miss a number of weeks. Rather than move Mitchell back to fullback – where he’s played the vast majority of his 187-game NRL career – Bennett has instead called up Dufty from NSW Cup.
Latrell Mitchell will stay at centre rather than swithing to fullback. Image: Getty
Bennett and the Rabbitohs actually had to apply for an exemption to use Dufty because he’s only on a NSW Cup contract and not part of the top-30 roster. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t be allowed to play at NRL level until Round 11, but Bennett argued exceptional circumstances because of the number of injuries the Rabbitohs have.
Bennett had the option of moving Mitchell back to his preferred position of fullback and using one of Moala Graham-Taufa or Edward Kosi at centre or wing. But Bennett argued it would be more detrimental to the club having to shift multiple players around.
Matt Dufty (R) will take Jye Gray’s (L) spot at fullback. Image: Getty
Part of the decision also revolves around the fact that Mitchell has been on fire at left centre. Along with Casey McLean and Simi Sasagi, he’s arguably been the best centre in the NRL across the first six rounds.
But according to Kent, it’s a sad indictment on Mitchell that Bennett hasn’t moved him to fullback. The knock on Mitchell when he predominantly played No.1 was that he wasn’t fit enough and didn’t get involved as much as he should.
NRL world debates Latrell Mitchell call
According to Bennett, the 28-year-old didn’t spend any time at fullback in the pre-season. “It must be disturbing that Wayne Bennett doesn’t think he’s fit enough to play fullback,” Kent said on his podcast. “He’s only better at centre because he’s not fit enough for fullback. If you get him fit and firing he’s one of the best fullbacks to play the game.”
Kent described it as “unfulfilled potential” that Mitchell is no longer playing fullback. “He’s got this explosive ability that very few fullbacks have got,” he added. “Instead they’re going to leave him out in centre playing one half of the field.”
Fellow veteran journo Paul Crawley also found it interesting that Bennett would use Dufty rather than Mitchell in such an important position, when Dufty hasn’t played NRL since 2021. The 30-year-old played five seasons with the Dragons and one at the Bulldogs before spending four years in England with Warrington.
“I don’t think right now you can play Latrell at fullback,” Crawley wrote for Fox Sports. “He does some wonderful things but he can also cost you.
“His runs back out of trouble, well he is getting the ball and passing it to the wingers. Jye Gray is half his size, runs back like a bull out of a gate. I think Latrell needs to pick his act up.”
But Reece Walsh disagrees. The Broncos fullback labelled some of Kent’s comments the “most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard” after Kent questioned how it affects Mitchell’s legacy. Former Rabbitohs teammate Taane Milne described it as “absolute dribble”, while a fan wrote: “Latrell has probably been top 3 best centres in the league since moving back there and it’s been better for the team. Matt Dufty has been carving up NSW Cup and earnt his spot.”