The South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback continued his media boycott after State of Origin Game 1.
Latrell Mitchell continued his media boycott after NSW defeated Queensland on Wednesday night, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback reportedly made an exit from the team hotel at 4am. NSW coach Laurie Daley was thrilled to have seen his team triumph 18-6 at Suncorp Stadium as the Blues utterly dominated Billy Slater’s Queensland team in State of Origin 1.
Slater is facing a tough decision on whether to chop and change his side with calls for captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to be dropped for Game 2. But the coach has admitted there wouldn’t be a huge change in personnel for the game in Perth as Queensland look to level the series after being thoroughly outplayed.
While Slater is facing the backlash for his side’s rudderless display, Daley’s team was superb and the coach admitted the players didn’t celebrate too late into the night after admitting the mission isn’t over. Daley claimed celebrations wrapped up by 1am on Thursday, but Fox Sports reporter Dane Lillingstone claimed there were reports Mitchell made a dash out of the hotel at 4am to leave camp in a quiet manner.
Latrell continued his media ban after Origin and was seen in the dressing room with his family after the game. He even posted a photo with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the NSW dressing room. Albanese is a Rabbitohs fan and the pair were captured smiling in a nice moment.
And it appears Mitchell opted to escape camp early to return back to Sydney, to potentially avoid the media, in the early hours of the morning. The media often waits for the two sides as they enter the bus on Thursday morning to get some player reactions and Mitchell might have made the move to avoid any interaction. Mitchell was photographed back at training with the Rabbitohs on Thursday morning.
Mitchell was solid against Queensland with his crowning moment coming when he tipped the ball on mid-air to Brian To’o for the side’s second try. Mitchell and the Rabbitohs will play the Warriors on the weekend and he will have a number of days to rest.
However, he remains a doubt to back-up having picked up a knee issue in Origin. The Rabbitohs sit sixth on the ladder and face a dangerous Warriors side sitting in third after a loss to Canberra last week.
Latrell Mitchell’s media ban divides during Origin
Both Mitchell and Roosters forward Spencer Leniu entered the NSW camp on self-imposed media bans. This certainly divided fans who felt the players have a duty to help promote the game. While others were all for the likes of Mitchell continuing his move to focus on footy.
The current stance of Mitchell goes against the mantra of previous NSW coach Brad Fittler, who insisted no player was given special treatment. Fittler felt that if players couldn’t handle questions from the media, they wouldn’t be able to deal with the rigours of State of Origin.
Michael Maguire adopted that stance last year, but new coach Daley does not have an issue with Mitchell’s call. But a week out from State of Origin Game 1, David Riccio told SEN radio it robbed fans of hearing from their favourite players and does nothing to help the promotion of the game. “What a narrow-minded view it is to think this is a good thing for the game,” Riccio said.
“What’s stopping the rest of the NSW team – Dylan Edwards, Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas etc – from deciding ‘no I’m not doing media’. And they’re within their rights now because two players have done it. There’s nothing stopping them.”
However, Mitchell and Leniu’s teammates had not issue with their media boycott. When asked about Leniu’s media ban, Roosters and NSW teammate Angus Crichton said: “He is just dialled in and ready to focus on helping us get the win. I didn’t even notice he wasn’t doing media and I think if that is what is going to get the best out of Spence on game day, then I am all for it.”
