‘I love Sam Kerr, but I love Luke Combs more’: Why Latrell’s skipping Matildas
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Latrell Mitchell is right behind Sam Kerr and the Matildas, but the Souths ace has a more important date at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday night.
Around the same time Australia’s favourite sports team kicks off their World Cup semi-final against England at Accor Stadium, Mitchell will be next door at a sold-out Qudos Bank Arena hanging backstage with his country music idol, Luke Combs.
“I hope Sam Kerr gets out there and kills it, but I won’t be watching – I love Luke Combs too much,” Mitchell told this masthead.
Mitchell let slip during a press conference during last year’s NRL finals he was a fan of the US singer, who earlier this year notched a record 15th consecutive No.1 song on country radio.
Sony Music executives reached out to Souths a couple of months ago to see if Mitchell wanted to meet Combs in person – and he was never going to pass. His father, Matt, who introduced Latrell to Combs’ tunes in 2016, will also attend. Mitchell will present Combs with a South Sydney No.1 jersey.
Broncos players, including Adam Reynolds, posted photos with Combs, of Fast Car fame, when he performed in Brisbane on the weekend.
Latrell Mitchell has passed on Sam Kerr for the chance to meet country music idol Luke Combs.Credit: Getty
“But where did Reyno grow up? Redfern? They wear cowboy hats around there, do they?” Mitchell quipped. “A lot of his songs resonate with me, and I’ve found peace with his songs.
“I remember staying up to 2am before a game trying to get tickets. I missed out, but now the stars have aligned.”
More than 100,000 people will be in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct on Wednesday night. Mitchell is happy to admit he is right on board the Matildas’ bulging bandwagon.
Souths players watched the quarter-final win over France back at their team hotel in Cairns after their own win over St George Illawarra on Saturday night. English Rabbitoh Tom Burgess and proud Queenslander Jai Arrow have made a bet to wear the rival’s jersey to training on Thursday if their country loses.
New recruit: Latrell Mitchell with Luke Combs’ No. 1 jerseyCredit: Sunny Brar/South Sydney Rabbitohs
Mitchell missed nearly three months with a calf injury this season, and appreciates what Kerr must have gone through when intense speculation surrounded her own calf complaint in the early stages of the World Cup.
“There are the different stages [with recovery], there’s all the media hype with the injury, and it’s a lonely road in the rehab room,” Mitchell said.
“It all becomes about your mindset. Sam is very strong with what she does, and it’s why she’s got back to the way she has.”
Souths need a win on Sunday against a Newcastle side chasing seven straight wins to keep their finals hopes alive.
Laurie Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast there was pressure on halfback Lachlan Ilias if Souths bombed out before the finals, especially with halves option Jack Wighton joining the club next year.
“If they don’t deliver this year, it’s an option for Souths to move Cody [Walker] to No. 7 and have Jack at No. 6,” Daley said.
“There’s a bit of pressure on Lachie. I know he’s only a young man, but this is his second season, and they have made some big statements about him.”
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