Special treatment given to Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker is ‘splitting struggling Souths’ as superstar gets slapped for ‘damn’ beer video
- South’s NRL season is on life support
- Mitchell and Walker are under the pump
- Fullback lashed out for lack of effort
South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell has been called out for a series of ‘lazy’ incidents both on and off the pitch as the fullback and Cody Walker are reported to have received preferential treatment at Redfern.
After following the NRL through the first half of the season, the Rabbitohs are in bad shape and will need to beat old foes the Roosters in the final round to have any hope of playing finals.
With the club struggling, the microscope has been applied to superstars Mitchell and Walker, with the $1 million fullback coming under the most scrutiny.
Fox Sports analyst Braith Anasta has flogged Mitchell for a string of under effort in Sunday’s loss to the Newcastle Knights as a vision has emerged of Mitchell shooting a can of beer on stage at a Luke Combs concert several days before.
It comes after New Corp reported that head coach Jason Demetriou had a heated clash with star half Cody Walker after their loss to the Sharks in round 23.
There is also “growing internal turmoil” in the team as Demetriou “fails to hold them to the same standards as the rest of the club,” the club said. The Sydney Morning Herald.
That worries South’s assistant coaches Sam Burgess and John Morris, the publication says.
Mitchell has come under fire for some plays in the Rabbitohs’ loss to the Knights and also for drinking beer on stage with country singer Luke Combs just days before
Cody Walker is also under scrutiny after reportedly having a heated clash with head coach Jason Demetriou following the club’s loss to the Sharks
Mitchell went to the Knight’s Combs concert on Wednesday for the season-defining clash against the Knights
“A story has just come out that Latrell and Cody are not held to the same standards as the other players on the team, this is getting louder,” Anasta said.
“Discipline comes from standards that come from training that come from applying the standards set in training to the football field. They are last in errors, second last in completion rates.’
For many, the sight of Mitchell drinking beer and living his best life on the Wednesday before the season-defining game against Newcastle was a bad sight.
“He didn’t look fit and fit during the game. He looked much better when he came back from the US (last season),’ said one furious fan.
“Fatrell..should stay off the beer and start working out again,” another posted.
“Latrell should have done his gun with Luke Combs on ‘going going gone’ as a touching tribute to the Souths 2023 season,” wrote another.
‘This doesn’t surprise me at all! Bloke wants to be the ‘main man’ and a ‘role model’, but with the season on the line, he elbows a player’s head for another two minutes… And this after throwing a beer during a concert during the week. I love him sometimes. But man he’s selfish,” another frustrated fan added.
Mitchell had a mixed bag in the Bunnies’ loss with 24 carries for a game of 204 running yards and 12 tackle breaks, but also had three fouls and a brain fade late in the game that saw him sinfully thrown out for head-on Tyson Frizzell pushed. .
This defensive read where Mitchell overshot winger Greg Marzhew was issued by Brait Anasta
Anasta also pointed to this moment when Mitchell was left in play during an offensive foray
Anasta also called out Mitchell for several moments both in defense and attack where he believed the Souths fullback was not doing well enough.
“Everyone is stepping it up but let’s face it, standards have dropped, discipline is bad,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
‘This is the first attempt. Check this out from Latrell Mitchell, your fullback. Won’t even run or get into second gear.
These are the first three tries of the game. These are just minor disciplinary errors.”
Anasta also pointed to another moment in the first half when Mitchell slowly walked into backplay without getting involved in an offensive push.
“This is the big one for me,” Anasta said.
“Look at Latrell here. I think if they make a breakthrough here the fullback should be on the inside. Taane Milne appears to kick and look where the fullback is.
“Tell me another fullback on the field standing so still and not leaning in the middle of the ruck.”