Latrell Mitchell is unlikely to view Friday’s clash between the Rabbitohs and Panthers in a re-run of last year’s grand final as a chance to provide any kind of atonement but deep down the emotional fullback will feel an added responsibility to carry South Sydney on his broad shoulders.
Mitchell missed last year’s decider after he was suspended for six weeks following a shocking incident when Souths met rivals the Sydney Roosters. Mitchell aggressively hit former teammate Joey Manu high, leaving the mercurial Roosters centre with a facial fracture that ended his season.
South Sydney handled Mitchell’s absence well when they made a run to the grand final before going down to the Panthers 14-12. Whether the Rabbitohs would have claimed their 22nd premiership if Mitchell played is or not is a question we will never get an answer to, but there is little doubt that having an $875,000-a-year international at fullback instead of an eight-game rookie would have given the South Sydney cause greater hope.
There were few more controversial incidents last season. Mitchell was widely criticised for not only the damage he inflicted on Manu but for being selfish, allowing his impulsiveness and emotion to undercut his team’s title hopes.
It was an incident – and an aftermath – that has clearly weighed heavily on Mitchell over the offseason after he was forced to watch the devastating grand final loss from the sidelines. He has sworn off alcohol and worked vigorously on channeling his emotional state.
Mitchell is a player driven by gut instinct, and the Manu incident has clearly driven a desire in him to give more, sacrifice more and provide more. A sublime talent since he debuted at just 18, he now seems to have found the desire to be the very best he can be.
Mitchell missed the season opener before he put together two quality performances against two big-time opponents, kicking a match-equalling two-point 45m field goal against Melbourne before a sublime showing against the Roosters in a match charged with electricity. It is Friday’s match against Penrith though that Mitchell will have had circled. This is the game he will want to turn in a match-winning performance.
Mitchell cannot atone for last season. What is done is done. And there are no premierships on the line in round four. This is an important game against last year’s premiers – and conquerors – on their home patch and one that a big performance and a Souths win will bring some level of inner peace to the fullback.
Much like the decider though, few are affording South Sydney any great hope with Penrith boosted by the return of Clive Churchill medal winner Nathan Cleary. The Penrith No 7 has missed the opening three weeks recovering from shoulder surgery but was never going to miss this clash.
The Panthers are the only unbeaten team through three weeks but after a blistering opener against Manly have looked a fair way off the pace in their last two wins against the Dragons and a 12-man Knights outfit. Part of that has no doubt been the lack of continuity with the Panthers. Only nine players from last year’s premiership win have been named to play with four players having departed the club and five more injured.
The absence of Cleary has been felt so far but so too have injuries to Brian To’o and James Fisher-Harris. To’o is the best player in the NRL in starting a set off while Fisher-Harris is a ferocious front rower who bends the line playing big minutes. Continuity is critical to maintaining success and the Panthers have had very little of it in the opening month of their premiership defence.
Cleary has been eased back and Penrith’s pursuit of back-to-back titles really starts now. Even with half of last year’s grand final team unavailable or no longer with the team, Cleary is the glue that any 2022 success will be built on. Mitchell will be looking to leave a mark but Cleary understands the importance of a statement game.
Expectations will be sky high at a buzzing Penrith Stadium on Friday night. The Panthers are not only top of the ladder, the defending premiers and title favourites, they have an 18-game winning streak at the ground to protect. Their last loss at Penrith Stadium was a 30-18 loss to Canberra in July, 2019.
Narrative is an overused piece of the sporting lexicon but this game truly is laden with compelling narratives, a fascinating tale of redemption and return, the past and the future, insiders and outsiders, success and failure.
Last year’s grand final is already inked into history. That result will never be changed. This game though is about Mitchell finding some level of peace and Penrith finding some level of footing to mount their defence. Rugby league truly does not get more compelling than this.
