The Mole: Fullback dilemma facing Wayne Bennett as 'simple solution' emerges

Wayne Bennett has been coaching since the 1980s - and faces one of the toughest decisions of his long career in the next couple of days.

Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell returns to the Souths team next weekend and will expect to slot in at his favoured role.

Bennett has even come out and said that Latrell will wear the No.1 jumper.

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But that was before Jye Gray's stunning display against four-time premiers Penrith on Thursday night.

Gray is literally the Energiser Bunny - the mighty midget pops up everywhere on the field and lifts the entire team with his enthusiasm.

Gray scored a try and saved another as the Rabbitohs charged to a shock 28-0 halftime lead - and that was game over.

Latrell obviously has to come into the starting 13 - but to drop Gray on his current form would be an injustice.

A simple solution would be to keep Gray at fullback and move Latrell into the centres, but how that would go down with the club's marquee man could be a problem.

GLAMOUR CLUB'S GRIM REALITY

Most critics thought the Roosters would struggle in 2025 before a ball was kicked - but they now look a genuine bottom four contender.

With just one win from four games, the Roosters are a club that has lost their way.

With a host of big name players leaving over the summer, the Roosters are paying the penalty for not replacing them.

They have some good young prospects - but not enough star power around them for the rookies to feel confident or comfortable.

Take James Tedesco, Angus Crichton and Victor Radley out of the Roosters team and they have few genuine leaders who can show the kids the way.

The 30-12 hammering from the Titans at home on Friday night highlighted a lot of the Roosters' problems and it looks like being a long, hard winter for the men in red, white and blue.

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

TELLING SIGN OF WALSH'S PROGRESSION

Reece Walsh had far from one of his best games in the Broncos' win over the Dolphins - but it was just what coach Michael Maguire ordered.

After back-to-back 'shockers' in the previous two weeks, the Broncos superstar was at the crossroads.

Another horror performance and he may well have earnt a spell in Queensland Cup, but Walsh went back to basics and didn't over-play his hand.

In horrible conditions, he was constantly tested by the Dolphins kickers yet made just one error and came up with a try assist.

The display would have boosted Walsh's sagging confidence - and you can expect it to soar in coming weeks.

SECRET MEETING THAT CHANGED DRAGONS FORTUNES

A behind-closed-doors meeting in bye week paved the way for the Dragons' shock win over the Storm on Saturday afternoon.

The Big Red V started the season poorly with back-to-back losses but the bye gave Shane Flanagan's men the chance to regroup.

"It was a truth session and the boys didn't hold back about what was going wrong," a Dragons source told Wide World of Sports.

"We didn't want the bye now without a win but it was probably the best thing for us leading into the Storm.

"We knew they were going to be really tough and that's what makes it all the more satisfying."

Veteran fullback Clint Gutherson, centre Val Holmes and hooker Damien Cook - all off-season signings - had their best games for the club before a delirious Kogarah crowd.

Back-rower Jaydn Su'a was also outstanding in both attack and defence.

MANLY YOUNGSTER TO BE FRONT AND CENTRE

Manly are extremely lucky to have a ready-made replacement for injury-plagued fullback Tom Trbojevic in the lively Lehi Hopoate.

Turbo hobbled through the first half of Sunday's scrappy 26-12 defeat of the struggling Eels before staying in the sheds.

The versatile Hopoate switched from wing to fullback and stole the show, running for 213 metres - more than any player on the field.

With Turbo likely to be sidelined for several weeks, Hoppa junior can be relied on to get the job done for the Sea Eagles.

FROM ZERO TO HERO FOR COWBOYS' REBORN STAR

Jake Clifford looked set for a dismal year in 2025 after starting the season in QLD Cup.

But after back-to-back losses, Cowboys coach Todd Payten decided to give Clifford his chance and the 27-year-old responded with a man-of-the-match performance in the team's maiden win of the season against Canberra on Saturday night.

Clifford scored two fine solo tries and was the difference between two out-of-sorts teams in the Cowboys' 30-20 win.

It should be enough to see him cement the key halfback spot for the forseeable future.

EARLY ORIGIN BOLTER EMERGES

Bronson Xerri is putting his name up in lights early on for NSW State of Origin selection.

Xerri's strike rate out wide is one of the main reasons the Bulldogs sit on top of the premiership ladder.

Cronulla have one of the most respected backlines in the league but speedster Xerri tore them to shreds with two tries and two line breaks.

With his drugs ban from his days at the Sharks now well and truly in the past, Xerri is playing great football and must be getting the attention of Blues bosses Craig Bellamy and Laurie Daley.