“I hope they don’t pick him. They’ll all sleep better if he’s not playing for NSW.”
Former Queensland and current South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett doesn’t want his superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell anywhere near the Blues squad.
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The Rabbitohs fullback provided the moment of the 2025 NRL season to date when he landed an epic 49-metre field goal in the driving rain to sink the Broncos on Friday night.
“He’s such a threat,” Bennett said.
“He just does what Latrell can do. That’s what makes him such a special player.
“I don’t think we thought it (the field goal) was going over, and then all of a sudden we got excited.”
Wayne’s hilarious reaction to Trell FG! | 05:19
Mitchell was involved in everything all night, with a one-on-one strip and a couple of epic try-saving tackles on Payne Haas and Deine Mariner to keep the undermanned Bunnies in the contest.
And when his side needed him the most, Mitchell came up with two plays that only champions can produce to put his name firmly in the mix for the Origin opener on May 28.
Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson summed it up best with: “Latrell Mitchell just reminded us who the hell he is.”
Mitchell’s two-point field goal with two minutes left and his try soon after on the buzzer capped a sensational South Sydney comeback win over the Broncos despite trailing 14-0 at half time.
“Latrell Mitchell has booted a monster. This is a legendary kick. That is awesome,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane said in commentary.
“In all honesty, are we that surprised? Latrell has got this in him,” Michael Ennis said on the panel post-match.
“That’s out of control that kick. That’s ridiculous.
“He wanted it” – Latrell a NSW lock? | 03:22
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“This is why we love Latrell Mitchell. The confidence to step up in this moment.”
Mitchell was simply outstanding in the second half and earned more praise from NRL icon James Graham.
“He is so freakish. It’s so rare,” Graham said.
“There’s a moment in that game that we forget. That tackle on Mariner kept his team in the game.
“That was supposed to be the moment and then we’d see what happens later on. That’s going to go down to highlight number three.”
Mitchell struck the field goal attempt so sweetly that he turned his back while the ball was still sailing through the air.
It was ice cold.
Mitchell didn’t react, instead letting his teammates tell the story of what just happened, with the fullback mobbed by red and green jerseys even before the ball went over the crossbar.
“In the rain as well. To walk off into the rain, that’s an iconic image of Latrell walking back with his teammates in pure joy,” Graham said.
Ennis added: “The still shot of him with his back turned while the ball is still sailing over the crossbar. That will be a shot he remembers forever.”
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