Mitchell could take centre stage in Souths backline
Scott Bailey and Darren Walton |
Latrell Mitchell could be set to return to left centre, with the South Sydney superstar spotted running on an edge at Rabbitohs pre-season training.
South Sydney’s fullback since he arrived at the club in 2020, Mitchell trained at centre on Wednesday in the first glimpse of the Rabbitohs’ preparations for 2026.
It came as cameras and media were allowed into South Sydney’s Heffron Park headquarters, as part of a joint press conference with boxer Tim Tszyu.
Mitchell was the best centre in the world when he played there at the Sydney Roosters last decade, winning back-to-back premierships in 2018 and 2019.
He has also since starred there for NSW, most notably with a dominant performance for the Blues at the MCG in 2024.
Such a move would allow Souths to play Jye Gray at fullback, where he at one stage led the Dally M early in 2025 while filling in for an injured Mitchell.
When asked, Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker insisted the club was yet to decide who would wear the No.1 jersey next year.
“We haven’t spoken about that internally as yet,” Walker said.
“The pre-season at the moment’s about getting ourselves fit, building those blocks and putting the work in.
“I’m sure after Christmas we’ll do a fair bit of game planning on where we want to play and how we want to play.”
Mitchell’s potential move poses further questions around Souths’ spine, with halfback Jamie Humphrey to miss the first two rounds through suspension.
Walker on Wednesday threw up Jayden Sullivan and the uncapped Jonah Glover and Latrell Siegwalt as options to take the No.7 jersey.
After a torrid few years of injuries, the positive for Souths will be the fact their big guns are now back on the park.
Cameron Murray is back training after an achilles rupture ruined his season, while Walker and Mitchell both missed more than half of the year through injuries.
But Walker, set to turn 36 next month, said he had no doubt about playing again in 2026.
“Last pre-season I came in a little bit underdone from my knee,” Walker said.
“This off-season I’ve had no surgeries going into the break. I’ve done a bit of work in that off-season to get my body right.
“I’ve put a good block of four weeks together now. Another week to go and into the break and then come back after Christmas and put some more work in.”
Walker was also certain recruit David Fifita still had the desire to return to his best, after exiting Gold Coast following a lacklustre 2025 season.
“You can only go off what he’s producing out on the footy field, and he’s putting in the work,” Walker said.
“He’s quite loud around the group.
“The greatest indication of wanting to win is his desire, and the effort he’s putting in.”
AAP
