'They'll sleep better': Wayne Bennett's Latrell warning to Blues selectors
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett hopes Latrell Mitchell isn't picked in Laurie Daley's Blues squad for the State of Origin series opener in 18 days.
Not because he doesn't want to lose his star fullback. He's not that selfish.
But because he's scared of what he'll do to the Maroons. And Bennett would know better than most – he's coached Queensland in 25 Origins in four stints across four decades.
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"I hope they don't pick him. (The Maroons) will all sleep better if he's not playing for NSW," he told media after Mitchell schooled the Broncos at Accor Stadium on Friday night.
"He's such a threat. He just does what Latrell can do.
Latrell Mitchell acknowledges the crowd after steering the South Sydney Rabbitohs to victory against the Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium. NRL Photos
"That's what makes him such a special player."
Trailing 14-0 at half time, the Bunnies were by far the better side in the second half. With the scores locked at 14-all in the dying minutes, Mitchell first booted a two-point field goal to put his side in front, and then iced it with a try when the Broncos literally turned their backs on full time.
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Not even Bennett thought that field goal - kicked from bang on half way - was going over.
"I don't think we thought it (the field goal) was going over, and then all of a sudden we got excited," Bennett said.
After striking the ball as cleanly as he could've, an expressionless Mitchell turned away and was mobbed by teammates.
"Can't he find a big moment, Latrell Mitchell?" Billy Slater said on Nine's coverage.
Phil Gould added: "He's a phenomenon, there's no other word for him."
At Origin level, Mitchell has been a bit of an enigma. He played the entire 2018 and 2021 series, but outside those has made just two other appearances in the Blues jersey - game one of 2019 and then game two in 2024.
Teams for Origin I are picked Monday week. The Rabbitohs will play the Tigers at Campbelltown the Sunday evening.
