Join now and get your first month for just $1. <\/a><\/p>\nHis injury struggles are also of concern as Mitchell has played just 98 games in six years.<\/p>\n
Mitchell has managed just 11 games in each of the past three seasons and has not played more than 17 games in a season since joining the Rabbitohs. <\/p>\n
And veteran NRL journalist Paul Crawley suggested the salary cap squeeze mixed with Mitchell\u2019s injury history could see Souths cut their losses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying it would be irresponsible right now to offer Latrell an extension on what we\u2019ve seen because if that\u2019s going to be your marquee man, he\u2019s got to be on the field and he\u2019s got to be fit,\u201d Crawley said. <\/p>\n
While David Riccio added: \u201cIt\u2019s heading towards a serious decision that needs to be made by the Bunnies, Latrell or no Latrell, because of their salary cap. They don\u2019t have any of their big money signed up in the halves or the spine.\u201d<\/p>\n
NRL greats also believe some Rabbitohs players were exposed as \u201cnot fit enough\u201d in their finals loss to Newcastle as South Sydney faces key roster decisions over both Mitchell and Cody Walker. <\/p>\n
The Knights played a fast-paced style in their elimination final final win over the Rabbitohs, who lost veteran five-eighth Walker to a calf injury during the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Sydney, for me, some of the best players were not fit enough,\u201d Cooper Cronk said on Matty & Cronk on Kayo Sports. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey were not fit enough. They could not go punch for punch, play for play with the Newcastle Knights. It was a masterclass of a game plan from Justin Holbrook.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSouths looked really tired after 20 minutes,\u201d Matty Johns agreed. <\/p>\n
Braith Anasta said on NRL 360: \u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019re fit enough. You look at their players, they are too slow across the park. You\u2019ve got to be faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey get caught out especially in the ruck. It just looks to me they\u2019re a pace or two behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the wins at the end of year were deceptive. I didn\u2019t think they were as good as what people thought. I really didn\u2019t think they were going to have a chance at winning it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey do let a lot of metres come through the centre of the ruck,\u201d Gorden Tallis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe older you get, the less weight you can carry. If I\u2019m Latrell, it\u2019s about the weight you carry.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIt leads to a lot of questions going forward about this South Sydney roster and their roster,\u201d Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcross the board they got out-competed the didn\u2019t look fit enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you\u2019re saying is a massive call about Latrell,\u201d Anasta said. \u201cDo you think they would make that call.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Sydney will do everything they can to give Latrell the opportunity to stay,\u201d Crawley added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it would be irresponsible to offer Latrell an extension based on what we\u2019ve seen because if that\u2019s going to be your marquee man, he\u2019s got to be on the field and he\u2019s got to be fit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rabbitohs face a dilemma over their salary cap and roster in general with a lack of a top level halfback a key issue, prompting speculation Tom Dearden and Ezra Mam could join the club. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t have their big money signed up in the spine \u2014 fullback, hooker or the halves,\u201d the Daily Telegraph\u2019s Dave Riccio said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got Payne Haas coming in, they\u2019ve got Cam Murray on big money, Latrell on big money, they\u2019ve got to re-sign Tallis Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anasta said: \u201cThey can easily cruise into finals next year with the team they\u2019ve got but that\u2019s not what it\u2019s about.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be cleaning out the spine and going for one big name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anasta noted Wayne Bennett has one more year left on his current deal. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe wants to win a comp,\u201d he said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if there\u2019s a big curveball that comes over the next 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jayden Sullivan and Ashton Ward have shared the halfback role, while Walker is likely to sign a one-year deal in the hope of vying for a premiership. <\/p>\n
\u201cTheir kicking game needs to improve, it needs to evolve,\u201d Cronk said of Souths after their final exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Cody Walker situation, it was quite emotional coming off with a calf injury, whether it\u2019s his last game or not. <\/p>\n
\u201cPayne Haas arrives next year. Wayne Bennett thinks he\u2019s in the premiership window with Payne arriving. What does Cody Walker do? What does Wayne Bennett do with Cody Walker?<\/p>\n
Matty Johns said: \u201cHe has to sign Cody. You\u2019ve got to sign him for 12 months. There\u2019s no one obvious you can go out and poach and get them in. They need him. <\/p>\n
Cronk replied: \u201cI agree. Give him 12 months and if it means playing him for two weeks then having two off.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There is growing speculation that Latrell Mitchell could quit Souths amid the Rabbitohs\u2019 salary cap squeeze. 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