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Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was initially \u201csurprised\u201d Latrell Mitchell played in the Koori Knockout last weekend after South Sydney informed him he would be unavailable to represent Australia due to a finger injury.<\/p>\n
But Meninga said his views had since changed after he was reminded about the impact Mitchell had on the Indigenous youth who attended the weekend tournament on the Central Coast.<\/p>\n
The Kangaroos coach added the 26-year-old was \u201cin need of a spell\u201d after a tough year.<\/p>\n
South Sydney informed the NRL a couple of weeks ago Mitchell would skip the Prime Minister\u2019s XIII and Tests because of upcoming surgery.<\/p>\n
What has also been overlooked is Mitchell and new Souths recruit Jack Wighton are due in court the week of the Pacific Championships final following a late-night incident outside a Canberra nightclub at the start of the year.<\/p>\n
Meninga accepted that plenty of people would have questioned how Mitchell could pass on the green and gold, but then represent the Newcastle Yowies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Souths ace Latrell Mitchell.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Kate Geraghty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had a think about it, and from my perspective, it\u2019s more about what he can do for the Indigenous community, and giving his time back to the community and his time back to the First Nations people,\u201d Meninga said.<\/p>\n \u201cLatrell is a very proud Aboriginal man. It did surprise me he played, I won\u2019t deny that. But I\u2019ve simmered a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must have got through the weekend OK, and now I hope he gets himself right, physically and mentally, and he explodes [on the field] in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell missed a large part of the season with the calf injury he suffered in NSW Origin camp, just three days before the series opener.<\/p>\n Then there was the racial abuse he received from a spectator at Penrith in round two, talk of preferential treatment from Souths\u2019 coaching staff – which was quickly shot down by club officials – and a talkback radio caller claiming his grandchild was told to wait for a photo.<\/p>\n Meninga had originally hoped some time away in Kangaroos camp would be the reset Mitchell needed.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this instance, the club made a decision on his behalf, and we\u2019ll abide by the club\u2019s decision,\u201d Meninga said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loves putting the green and gold jersey on.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has had an up and down year, we all know that. He\u2019s been hammered from a mental point of view but also hammered with injuries, including the calf issue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a tough time for him, especially off the back of a World Cup. They played six games at the back of a long year, and Souths had also made the finals last year. There comes a time when you need a spell, and it\u2019s his time now.<\/p>\n \u201cI spoke to him. He was very keen to play for the Aussie team. But I didn\u2019t know about his finger at the time, and the club ruled him out on specialist\u2019s advice. He should be out six weeks. We went with that.\u201d<\/p>\n Souths CEO Blake Solly was of the 10,000 fans who attended the Koori Knockout on the Central Coast, and had no issues with his star fullback taking part.<\/p>\n \u201cLatrell had the club\u2019s blessing to play in the knockout, and that tournament is very different to six weeks of training and playing international rugby league, which is what he would have had to do playing for the PM\u2019s XIII and Tests,\u201d Solly said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spoke with the Kangaroos and NRL at the time, and they understood the reasons why we decided Latrell was unavailable.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newslette<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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