- Willie Mason wants to see Latrell Mitchell in a NSW jersey
- Mitchell labeled ‘best left center in the world’
- Rabbitohs star last played for Blues in the 2021 series
NRL great Willie Mason is pushing for Latrell Mitchell to get an Origin recall, labeling the Rabbitohs star the ‘best left center in the world’.
Mitchell, 26, was overlooked by NSW Blues coach Michael Maguire in the series opener in Sydney but with Joseph Sua’ali’i suspended he is emerging as the logical replacement.
“He just scares the hell out of teams,” Mason, who played 19 games for NSW, told co-host Gorden Tallis on NRL 360.
‘He has that X factor. I know they didn’t consider him game one considering what happened off the field.
‘The papers [media] checked this story and said he was a bad influence. I don’t think that’s a fact.
NRL great Willie Mason insists Latrell Mitchell gets an Origin recall, calling the Rabbitohs star ‘the best left center in the world’
Latrell Mitchell last played for the NSW Blues in the 2021 series – threatening as an outright swap for the suspended Joseph Sua’ali’i
“I think he’s really shown it in recent weeks and I think he’s going to prove it again this week [against Brisbane].
‘I still think he is the best left center in the world. He’s just had that attack and he’s got that presence and he’s the only one who scares Queensland.”
Fellow ex-NSW star Mitchell Pearce agreed with Mason and pointed out Mitchell’s intimidation factor.
‘When he is on, he plays very well. He proved himself in Origin,” he said.
“He’s intimidating, he’s big, he’s strong. I think we need that.’
Mitchell last played for the Blues in 2021, with injuries ruling him out of 2022 and 2023.
Despite South Sydney’s problems this season, Mitchell has been a standout in recent weeks.
He defeated the Gold Coast Titans last start, finishing with a try, three try assists and four line break assists in a thumping 46-12 win.
On Friday night, Mitchell’s Rabbitohs take on the Broncos at Accor Stadium, another chance for the polarizing star to showcase his talent to Blues coach Michael Maguire.
Cameron Murray has been benched for South Sydney as the hard-working lock returns from a hip flexor injury.