Breakfast of champions: Mitchell links with Wighton after dining out on premiers
Save articles for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
Latrell Mitchell celebrated his starring role in South Sydney’s win over Penrith by having breakfast with potential new teammate and Canberra star Jack Wighton.
Mitchell bagged two tries and was a handful all night against the premiers as the Rabbitohs scored two tries in the final five minutes to triumph 20-18.
Wighton met with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett in Brisbane on Thursday before he flew to Sydney where he watched Souths and Mitchell remind the rugby league world why they are title contenders.
The Raiders ace will meet with Souths officials, including coach Jason Demetriou, later on Friday in the city.
Souths would have quickly impressed Wighton had they invited him to Friday’s memorial for club great John Sattler, whose ashes were scattered at the northern end of Redfern Oval, with club greats Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote and George Piggins, as well as Mitchell and the current Bunnies, all in attendance.
Skipper Cameron Murray told the Herald that Wighton would have been given a quick snapshot of how much Sattler meant to the club and how well Souths honoured their greats.
Latrell Mitchell was in a mood against Penrith.Credit: Getty Images
“But I’m not sure how comfortable Jack would have been sitting here with all the cameras around,” Murray said.
“I love this club so much. I haven’t seen how things are done at other clubs, but we do things so well here.
“Jack is a class player, he’s a class person, so he ticks both boxes in terms of what it means to be a South Sydney man. He’d fit in so well here. He’d bring class and talent to what I believe is already a world-class roster.”
Murray said he had only sent Wighton a message after he announced he had retired from representative football, but he was close with Mitchell and Cody Walker.
Jack Wighton will meet with Souths officials on Friday afternoon.Credit: Getty
The Raiders have already tabled a four-year $4.4m deal, but Canberra also do not have an X-factor like Mitchell, nor a roster to push for a title in the next few years.
When Mitchell gets in a mood like he did against the Panthers, there is no better sight.
One of the most breathtaking passages of play involving Mitchell came midway through the first half at Accor Stadium when Jai Arrow pounced on a loose ball, passed to Alex Johnston who spotted his fullback off the long run and handed him the ball. Mitchell drew a couple of Panthers before he flicked the ball out the back of his hand to Johnston who took off down field.
Hooker Damien Cook scored a couple of minutes later under the post.
“I spoke before the game about us backing ourselves and playing some footy, and we won’t [have success] if we go one out up the field and hope Penrith miss a tackle here or there because they don’t do that,” Demetriou said.
“I think he [Mitchell] touched the ball four times in that set, which is good to see.
“We get a lot out of that. And to do it in the big moments in the big games is when you really get some confidence out of it.”
Souths take on competition leaders Brisbane next weekend, while Penrith, who absorbed plenty of defensive pressure, and capitalised on the few attacking opportunities they had, host the Wests Tigers in Bathurst.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article