Latrell Mitchell returning in the centres this week in a move that keeps in-form Souths young gun Jye Gray in the side is proof the club is healing under Wayne Bennett.
That’s according to an NRL 360 panellist while another believes No. 3 is still Blues and Kangaroos centre Mitchell’s best position.
The Rabbitohs look reborn under Bennett in the wake of Jason Demetriou’s ugly exit last season amid accusations he gave Mitchell and Cody Walker special treatment.
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“This (decision) shows the influence of the great Wayne Bennett,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
“We all agree it’s a good move to put him back in the centres but there was still an element of shock today when he was named there. He’s got all the power and he’s made the big call.”
Journalist Paul Crawley believes it’s the biggest indication yet that Bennett has mended the club divide that was there for all to see this time last year.
“What this also shows is, last year there seemed to be preferential treatment for Cody and Latrell and there’s no doubt in the world it caused problems at Souths,” Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.
“I don’t think they would have done this if Jason Demetriou was still the coach.
“Wayne has smoothed it over with Latrell, he had to get him on board and make sure he wanted to do it for the team but that’s what it’s all about at Souths at the moment.
“Wayne still sees him as the best fullback in the comp but for the team this week and the outs that they have, this is what’s best for the team and Latrell’s on board.”
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Gorden Tallis backed the move while journalist Andrew Webster believes it should be a permanent switch but that it won’t be.
“I think it’s a great move and really smart from Wayne Bennett with Latrell coming back from injury,” Tallis said.
“You need him out there and I think he can have the same impact at centre, we’ve watched it so many times in State of Origin and at the international level.”
“I still think it’s his best position to be perfectly honest,” Webster responded.
“It’s where he made all his noise as a younger player, it’s where he won premierships.
“I just love how Wayne is playing with our minds. Like he said two weeks ago that he was never going to pick Latrell (in the centres) and it was always going to be him coming in at fullback.
“I think it’s a smart decision but I don’t think it will be for very long.”
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Crawley also pointed out the injury context behind the selection.
“Wayne pretty much had to pick him at centre this week because of the injury concern Souths have at the moment,” he said.
“They lost Alex Johnston at the weekend, they’re already without Tyrone Munro, Campbell Graham is out. It just made sense and at the end of the day Jye Gray has been fantastic this year, he leads the Dally Ms.”
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