Meet the real Latrell Mitchell.
The Rabbitohs star has given a rare insight into who he really is after he helped NSW blow Queensland away in State of Origin Game 2 on Wednesday night.
The gun fullback has continued to be the most talked about player in the game after a tumultuous start to the 2024 season and South Sydney’s stunning 2023 implosion.
Mitchell has been widely criticised following a number of ugly tackles during his club’s nightmare start to the year, but his form — and public perceptions — have shifted.
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Mitchell won widespread praise when he made a private dash to attend a junior footy clinic in Taree, country NSW, on Thursday morning. He hopped on a 6.40am flight back home just hours after the Blues’ victory at the MCG.
Increasingly, this is the version of Mitchell people see and accept.
Not the so-called thug that some believe him to be after his latest suspension — a three match ban for elbowing Shaun Johnson.
Mitchell has now opened up on the constant drama and criticism that has surrounded his 2024 season in a startling admission about his high profile in the game.
“I just feel like a lot of people hate me and they don’t know me,” he sad in an interview with Channel 9’s Michael Chammas which aired in full on the Sunday Footy Show.
“A lot of people hate me to make me the villain all the time so I tend to shut the doors on who I am as a person. That’s how I am at the moment because that’s how I’ve been s*** on. In my past times, but I’ve learnt a lot from those situations being young. And being taken advantage of.
“The way I act on the field is a bit of frustration from off the field. Acting out, it’s not the way to play footy. It’s not the game I love. These short bursts of anger. That’s not me. That’s what just builds up over time or over the week or a month or a year of people just constantly at me.
“If media just shut up and let me play. Honestly, if you shut up and let me play there’d be nothing controversial.”
He said speculation that he was considering retiring earlier this year was accurate.
He said he was close to walking away and returning home to Taree.
“I didn’t want to go through another year of you know of heart ache,” he said.
“But you cut back the layers and you can see the people who have made sacrifices for you and you want to make them proud.”
Mitchell said he is fully aware of the added pressure he puts on himself by being outspoken as a proud indigenous leader — but is refusing to take a backwards step.
“All I’ve ever done was stuck up for my people. Stuck up for my culture and stuck up for my family,” he said.
“I honestly think back if I’d have just shut my mouth and get on with my job like everyone says I have to do now, I’d be the best player in the world.”
When asked if that would make him happy, he responded: “Nup. No way”.
Mitchell received a huge ovation from the MCG crowd when interviewed after the Blues’ bloodbath where he finished with one try and three assists.
After seeing their prodigal son broadcast on the big screen inside the stadium, Blues fans erupted - and the noise was so loud Mitchell stopped the interview to soak it up.
“How good’s that,” he said, raising a hand to acknowledge the support.
Gallen also grinned broadly. “Latrell I know it’s not about you, but you belong at this level,” he said. “It must be good to be back.”
“I’m honestly not making it about myself,” Mitchell replied. “It’s about the people that showed up today, about everyone here in blue jerseys, blue shirts, our families showing up, NSW showing up, mate.
“We’ve got another one to go. Very proud of the boys. Our week was very special, I loved it.”
After three years in the wilderness, Mitchell’s return to the State of Origin arena couldn’t have gone much better.
Inserted into the centres in place of the suspended Joseph Suaallii, Mitchell was the perfect cog in NSW’s system as the Blues defeated Queensland 38-18 to level the series 1-1.
The Blues scored six tries to none in the highest scoring first half in Origin history in an emphatic response to force a decider in Brisbane in three weeks.
