Rugby league legend Bryan Fletcher has declared the Rabbitohs “can’t drop” Jye Gray and instead must shift superstar Latrell Mitchell into the centres.
Mitchell has already been training almost exclusively at left centre, with Fox Sports News reporting he’s set to form a scary edge partnership with star recruit David Fifita.
The 28-year-old superstar managed only 11 NRL games in 2025, battling with a quad, a hamstring and a foot injury in a turbulent campaign.
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Mitchell made his last first grade appearance in the centres in a sign of things to come, with Gray enjoying a breakout year in the No.1 for South Sydney.
Speaking on the Kayo Sports NRL Podcast, Fletcher gave his verdict on Mitchell’s positional switch.
“I wholeheartedly agree,” he said.
“You can’t drop Jye Gray, look what happened, he was leading the Dally M’s.”
Nathan Hindmarsh then asked if Wayne Bennett would allow the attacking weapon to roam, similarly to the role previously given to Tom Trbojevic at Origin level in years gone by.
“Absolutely, when he gets down (to the attacking end) he can do whatever he wants,” he said.
“That would be my advice, when you get down to good ball do whatever you want to do.”
The Rabbitohs have previously had a tendency to focus their attack around their left edge, and should Mitchell make a permanent shift the 2026 season could be no different.
Mitchell is set to be partnered by Fifita and gun winger Alex Johnston, who is only three tries away from overtaking Ken Irvine as rugby league’s most prolific tryscorer of all time.
On the other side of the field, Jack Wighton will also line-up in the centres meaning almost $2 million of the Rabbitohs’ salary cap will be spent in the position, according to the pair’s reported salaries.
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“That would have to be their go to edge every time, set up on the right, shift to the left,” Hindmarsh said.
“That’s a lot of money in the centres, I know you’re going to say there’s Stephen Crichton at the Dogs who is on a lot of money as well.
“I don’t know Bryan, I don’t even know why we are talking about Latrell and positions, because he is meant to be one of the players in the competition.
“But he can’t nail down a spot.”
As for the halves positions, Hindmarsh believed there was a chance Mitchell could be shifted from the centres of South Sydney struggle early in their 2026 campaign.
“I’d give Humphreys the first few weeks at No.7 and if things weren’t happening, put Latrell at No.6 Cody Walker at No.7,” Hindmarsh said.
“Because you can’t move Jye Gray from fullback… he won that game for them against the Eels.”
Elsewhere, footage of Mitchell and Fifita wrestling on a beach went viral in recent weeks, with the two powerhouse stars going toe-to-toe.
The pair were surrounded by the South Sydney squad who watched on and cheered for their teammates.
“Come on Trell, get him bra,” one player could be heard saying, while another said “come on Davy, keep fighting.”
Fifita initially looked to have the upper hand and flipped the marquee star towards the water. However, Mitchell then fought back, driving forward as Fifita struggled to match motors.
But for Hindmarsh, the sight was nothing new in the world of rugby league.
“Who gives a rats? Seriously, no one cares. We have been doing wrestling sessions for how long at the beach? Who cares,” he said.
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“Is it only because it is Fifita and Latrell? If it was any other two blokes would anyone care?
“I looked at it and said ‘I don’t even know if I am going to watch this shit’. What a load of… I’m tired, I’m cranky.”
As for who was Hindmarsh’s worst teammate to wrestle, he said: “Eric Grothe Junior, you had to get him early because he would knock up early.
“But if he got you in a hold, you knew you were on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Fletcher named Adam MacDougall as his toughest competitor.
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