Joel Gould – Michmutters
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South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell ready to fire in first NRL finals series since 2019

Latrell Mitchell says September football is “what I live for” as he eyes off four upcoming blockbuster club clashes and playing finals footy in a Rabbitohs jersey for the first time.

Mitchell, who starred in the 38-point walloping of the Warriors on Saturday with a personal haul of 24 points to lift South Sydney to sixth position on the ladder, has not played in a final since winning the 2019 decider with the Roosters.

Since joining the Rabbitohs he missed the 2020 finals series with a ruptured hamstring tendon and last year’s finals due to suspension.

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He has a sensational record in football finals, winning six of seven games and two premierships with the Roosters. He throws in five tries, with a try in each of his first five appearances, and it is his time to shine.

The 25-year-old custodian is not satisfied with what he has done. It is what comes next that drives him. Winning a competition with South Sydney is his quest from him, but huge games against the Eels, Panthers, Cowboys and Roosters in the next month could make or break the Rabbitohs

“I just love the pressure of this time of year. I love the competitiveness. It is what I live for. I strive for that,” Mitchell said.

“When you know what semi-finals tastes like, it is where you want to be.

Latrell Mitchell starred for the Rabbitohs against the Warriors. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“Let’s focus on getting there first… but it would be a different feeling winning [a title] here at South Sydney. I know the passion of the South Sydney fans, members, sponsors and investors… everyone who has put their blood, sweat and tears into it. It is time to repay that.

“I am definitely putting my hand up to do that because I haven’t played [finals] since 2019 and I am really excited to feel the pressure and see what unfolds.

“The next month, I think it is definitely what we need. It is only going to be a positive for us. It will outline a few things that we need to work on. This week’s done. Next week is Parra’.”

Mitchell said he had learned a lot about getting the best out of himself, while reflecting on his three-year absence from the business end of the season.

“That is a real eye opener, but it is a disappointing thing as well… with injury and suspension. Things happen in a split second,” he said.

“I have taken a lot of things out of the last three years, just with my growth. I’ve learned how to be a better teammate, and a better dad off the field as well. When your off-field is making you happy it translates into your footy, and vice-versa. I am continuing to build my legacy.

“I want to keep working on the little things and put myself in the best position.”

The Rabbitohs have won five of six matches since Mitchell’s return from a nine-week absence due to a hamstring injury suffered in round five. After putting the Warriors to the sword, South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou said Mitchell’s best of him was yet to come in the next month.

The Rabbitohs fullback said the entire side had another gear.

“We still haven’t got our full strength back yet,” Mitchell said. We still have Campbell Graham to come back into the team and a few others. It is exciting. It is a great time of the year to give everyone a taste and see where our depth is at.”

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Canberra Raiders hero Jamal Fogarty not bitter over Titans axing

After putting his former club to the sword, Canberra half Jamal Fogarty said he had “no regrets” about leaving the last-placed Titans and has pleaded with the Gold Coast to have patience with rookie No.7 Toby Sexton.

Fogarty, who played 41 games for the Gold Coast, was superb for the Raiders in the 36-24 win over the Titans. He set up a crucial try when the game was in the balance and combined superbly with halves partner Jack Wighton to keep Canberra’s finals hopes alive.

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Sexton and the Titans spine was unable to ice key moments, causing coach Justin Holbrook to say that “Kieran (Foran) can’t get here quick enough”, in reference to the Manly star’s impending arrival in 2023.

The Titans parted ways with Fogarty at the end of last year and allowed him to sign with the Raiders after backing 21-year-old Sexton to be their main man in the seven jersey.

That decision has been a flop, but Fogarty said he had no bitterness towards the Gold Coast.

“There are no regrets,” the 28-year-old said.

“I’ll be totally honest. When I signed at the (Titans) they told me day one Toby was going to be their halfback moving forward. It was just going to be a matter of when.

“Once they said Tobes was ready to take over it was ‘sweet, where is the best option for me to keep playing?’

Jamal Fogarty says the Titans should show some faith in Toby Sexton. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“I am not bitter towards the club or any of the players. I am just grateful that Sticky (Ricky Stuart) and the Canberra boys have given me the opportunity to keep playing NRL because it took me so long to get here. I had to look after myself first.

“Moving forward I hope all the Gold Coast supporters give Tobes a bit of time and give him a bit of love and credit. He’s had two years where it has been Covid.

“He has come straight out of school, hasn’t played any footy, and obviously it was going to be tough for him to play a full season of halfback. He is going to be a 10 or 12-year player for the club and play 200 games for them.”

The Raiders are in ninth position on the ladder on 22 points and just outside the eight on for and against.

Fogarty, who has won five of eight games for the Raiders after overcoming injury, is building his combination with Wighton.

“People on the outside don’t realize we’ve played just five games together,” Fogarty said.

“Two of those weeks he was in Origin camp. He came back for captain’s run after I’d trained all week with Matt Frawley… so we were learning on the run in captain’s run. Another time he had Covid and it was very similar.

“The last weeks we’ve been able to have a full week of preparation and we are finding a groove. I think we are heading in the right direction at the right time of the season whether they are good wins or ugly wins.”

The selfless Fogarty said the win over the Titans was not about him, but it still felt weird.

“It is obviously different in the away sheds, to start off with. It is the first time I have come to the stadium on a bus as well,” he said.

“I spoke to the boys every week that it is just about us. When we focus on ourselves we play our best style of footy.”

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