Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has shut down discuss of Latrell Mitchell switching positions this 12 months.
In an interview with News Corp, Demetriou confirmed Mitchell will play fullback.
It comes after a hot-and-cold 2023 season for the South Sydney star during which he solely performed 16 video games.
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Mitchell battled a calf damage mid-season that sidelined him for 2 months. He returned in Round 22 however struggled to search out constant kind.
His season ended on a bitter observe with the 26-year-old lacking the Rabbitohs’ must-win recreation in opposition to the Roosters within the ultimate spherical of the season as a consequence of a suspension.
Pundits have usually floated the thought of shifting Mitchell to the centres — the place he received two premierships with the Roosters.
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He hasn’t performed greater than 17 video games in a season since becoming a member of the Rabbitohs and a few consider that disruption at fullback could be detrimental to a aspect’s premierships possibilities. Others simply consider he’s a greater centre than a fullback.
But Demetriou is backing his marquee participant for an enormous 12 months within the No.1 jersey — particularly after an extended pre-season than ordinary.
“I’ve had those conversations with him and it’s about getting him ready for a full season at fullback, which he hasn’t had yet,” Demetriou informed News Corp.
“He hasn’t trained before early or mid-January since he came to the club and to have him doing the workload he’s doing at the moment, that is going to set him up for a really good season.
“People get jobs in the press and I respect that’s (their) opinion. But when you see Latrell day-in, day-out and see what he brings to the team, people forget our season started going pear-shaped when he got injured.”
Campbell Graham and new recruit Jack Wighton are anticipated to be the Rabbitohs’ first-choice centre pairing.
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DRAGONS’ SUCCESS HINGES ON NEW-LOOK HALVES PAIRING
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is hoping his new-look halves pairing can steer the membership to rather more success in 2024.
Ben Hunt was set to accomplice Talatau Amone within the halves for the third season till Amone was deregistered after being discovered responsible of a hammer assault.
Flanagan has since turned to his son — and new recruit — Kyle, who will begin the season at five-eighth.
Kyle has joined the Dragons from the Bulldogs, the place he skilled the highs and lows of rugby league rollercoaster. He went from being the first-choice halfback to being dropped and recalled a few occasions to then enjoying hooker off the bench.
Shane is hoping the 25-year-old will thrive whereas working alongside probably the most skilled halfbacks within the recreation in Hunt.
He additionally is aware of it’s “crucial” that the 2 gel effectively given they are going to be guiding the group across the park.
“Kyle is a young half who had a lot of expectation on him at the Bulldogs — he had some good days and some not so good days, but he knows what I want from him,” Shane mentioned.
“His combination with Ben, the influence Ben has had him, how they work together has been what I thought it would be (so far).
“Kyle’s style suits Ben, it frees Ben up to do a lot of things. Ben has been the organiser and had to come up with a lot of big plays but now he doesn’t have to do it all on his own.
“Kyle can just do his job. He is not the type of No.7 who can pull teams apart with his running game whereas Ben can… I think they complement each other a little bit and Kyle has really enjoyed his time working with Ben.
“Ben came back early from his break and their combination has been working well and I think it has helped Ben and it has definitely helped Kyle.
“Their partnership is crucial for our success.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
