Paul Kent article in the Tele today

[Mickie Lane]

It came after a short talk with coach Dean Pay last week.

They simply did not believe he was right for the culture of a club in a rebuild.

Here it comes back to the Roosters. With an $800,000 a year offer on the table and for all the care they gave him, there was a clear belief he showed no gratitude for what the Roosters had done for him and were still doing.

A meeting between a senior player and club officials confirmed it when the player got honest. Mitchell, he said, did not quite fit with the playing group.

He always needed extra work. Robinson was understanding, going as far as allowing him to return to Taree mid-season to escape the mental stress of life in the NRL.

Yeah I cant work out whether he is talking about the Dogs or the Roosters.

[Bruce 38-0]

Danny Weidler has a piece in the SMH. Interesting read. As I posted a few days ago, if he doesnot sign elsewhere by the end of the week will he be on the plane to Vegas? That’s the ultimate test to see how things are between Club and player.

[Hawkeye]

It came after a short talk with coach Dean Pay last week.

They simply did not believe he was right for the culture of a club in a rebuild.

Here it comes back to the Roosters. With an $800,000 a year offer on the table and for all the care they gave him, there was a clear belief he showed no gratitude for what the Roosters had done for him and were still doing.

A meeting between a senior player and club officials confirmed it when the player got honest. Mitchell, he said, did not quite fit with the playing group.

He always needed extra work. Robinson was understanding, going as far as allowing him to return to Taree mid-season to escape the mental stress of life in the NRL.

Yeah I cant work out whether he is talking about the Dogs or the Roosters.

I read it as he's talking about a Roosters senior player !

[Tommy Smith]

I read it the same way. He's talking about a Roosters player.

I think Kent is spot on and the story rings true.

[roosterproud]

If lats gets on the plane with the rest of the team. It will be an akward journey eating humble pie.
i think its all to late for lats. He may as well go to the tittans and have a 3yr holiday and hook back up with former coach justin holebrook. Under the wrong coach and club he will turn into his brother Shaquil and be sponsored by kfc

[bondi.boy]

Latrell Mitchell suffered the most fatal injury in sport when he stubbed his toe on his scrapbook earlier this season.

It was some injury, such is the recent praise.

It put Mitchell immediately in danger of joining a forgotten legion of players, all on the rise, who lost sight of what earned them their success and they instead took the big money that soon, and inevitably, turned into the short money.

It is not often you watch on as one of the sad stories in sport is being written but, right here, a cautionary tale is being penned before our eyes.

Stream the 2019 Oceania Cup Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly > Latrell Mitchell has a big decision to make on his future. Art: Boo Bailey
Former players have urged Mitchell to stay where he is at Sydney Roosters, who seem to have lost patience with him. Teammates have reached out in recent times out of concern, the Rugby League Players Association has put its concern on record.

Yet none of them seem able to do anything, which is the NRL’s tragedy.

The reasons why, in as much as those around Mitchell all insist they are doing nothing but what is best for the young player even as the growing number of advisers and urgers all overlook the fact success is built on foundations.

Talent does not transfer easily. Success is the residue of hard work and good practices.

---

FROM OUR PARTNERS

See every ball of every Test, ODI, T20I & BBL live Foxtel Now 10 day free trial*

---

Mitchell’s problem is twofold; his youth and his ears. He has so many people whispering sweet deals in them, without the wisdom to discern, it is easy to become confused.

Sadly he has yet to mature to a point where he can distinguish the good advice from the bad. Mitchell has been tipped for a club switch. Picture: Dan Himbrechts
Where it began, so far as anyone can tell, is after his brilliant game in round eight. He scored 26 points against Wests Tigers and many were quick to declare, such was his dominance, that he was quite simply the best player in the world.

His stats were mighty and surely backed up their assertions. Three tries, seven goals, six runs for 194m, which included five tackles busts, two line breaks, a line break assist and two try assists to go along with his three tries.

Shortly after, like clockwork, it emerged Canterbury had approached Mitchell through an intermediary and a 10-year $10 million offer was being spoken about.

It would reflect his status as the best player in the world.

Only, he wasn’t.

Behind the dazzling stats was the fact that all those numbers were generated from just six runs. How often could a performance like that be repeated? Mitchell has been encouraged by former players to stay at the Roosters. Picture: Dan Himbrechts
Unfortunately it just got worse.

Mitchell was already in a managerial dispute with his long-time manager Steve Deacon. Deacon was there from the beginning but as Mitchell’s talent grew, and his worth with it, conspirators got in his ear and leveraged a small fissure between Mitchell and Deacon into an unworkable problem.

Mitchell went to market for a new manager and surprised most, and angered some, when he settled on Kalyn Ponga’s manager Wayde Rushton.

Then it began to get really murky.

Another manager, Mario Tartak, introduced Mitchell to Canterbury Leagues Club chairman George Coorey which is where the Bulldogs 10-year deal first stemmed from.

Everybody could see Mitchell was being romanced by greener pastures.

The Roosters looked on concerned. Rushton, a freshly signed contract in hand, remained unconcerned.

The Bulldogs football club had no official contact with Mitchell. The entire conversation was speculative. Mitchell recently signed with Kalyn Ponga’s manager, Wayde Rushton. Picture: Mark Metcalfe
Tartak was simply introducing Mitchell to Coorey and the potential of what might be.

Things began souring during the finals, though.

The Roosters turned up for their first finals game at the SCG and Mitchell turned up in a flash new Mercedes S63 Turbo. The car, it is believed, was provided by Tartak.

Beating Souths earned them a week off.

By now speculation about his future was being reported on weekly, if not daily.

Not only were the Bulldogs still hovering with their 10-year offer but more clubs, driven by more urgers, were circling Mitchell with promises of gold bullion.

Then it got worse.

With the week off Mitchell had a secret meeting with Tartak and Coorey.

At one point one of those loosely advising Mitchell told Coorey he could deliver Mitchell. All he needed was a small payment of $50,000. And he’d prefer it kept quiet.

Coorey, because he is not crazy, immediately knocked it back.

The secrecy around the meeting angered the Roosters. They saw it as disrespectful. Here they were fine tuning a premiership defence and Mitchell was secretly negotiating. Billy Smith has been tipped to replace the boots of Mitchell. Picture: Cameron Spencer
About then the Roosters reworked their plans. Brett Morris could play centre next season.

He is not the threat Mitchell is in attack but defensively he will be there for every minute, something Mitchell can’t be accused of.

Billy Smith is on the rise.

It reached a head Tuesday when Roosters coach Trent Robinson called Mitchell in and

Mitchell arrived believing he was meeting for his annual review.

Towards the end of the meeting Robinson told Mitchell what the Roosters believed he was worth. Mitchell did not pick up on the finality of it. He told Robinson he wanted to explore the market to find his value.

Later, the Roosters called his manager Wayde Rushton to say they had withdrawn their offer. It leaves Mitchell in his final season with a year to negotiate at a new club.

But the Roosters are happy to let him go now.

As late as Friday Rushton said up to nine clubs are interested in him for next season. Mitchell has tasted enormous success in recent years. Picture: Anthony Au-Yeung
Then later on Friday the Bulldogs confirmed they were not one of them.

“We’re out,” chief executive Andrew Hill said on Friday.

“With all the speculation around the club and Latrell we thought it would be the right thing to let our members and fans know that we are not pursuing any interest in Latrell Mitchell.”

He declared it a definite no.

It came after a short talk with coach Dean Pay last week.

They simply did not believe he was right for the culture of a club in a rebuild.

Here it comes back to the Roosters. With an $800,000 a year offer on the table and for all the care they gave him, there was a clear belief he showed no gratitude for what the Roosters had done for him and were still doing.

A meeting between a senior player and club officials confirmed it when the player got honest. Mitchell, he said, did not quite fit with the playing group.

He always needed extra work. Robinson was understanding, going as far as allowing him to return to Taree mid-season to escape the mental stress of life in the NRL.

FOXSPORTS0:49 Latrell Mitchell heading to the Cowboys?

NRL: With Latrell Mitchell’s contract situation still up in the air, the Roosters star is reportedly considering a move to the North Queensland Cowboys

Robinson, the player said, would spend as much time preparing Mitchell and his quirk as he would the rest of the team combined. Was he worth the work? With indications the high maintenance will get worse? And at that price?

Canterbury’s formal withdrawal on Friday was a nod to those whispers.

“Jarryd Hayne all over again,” one club insider said.

The smart decision disappeared Tuesday, when the Roosters took the kid gloves off and declared the offer gone.

Smart decision to boot Latrell out now?
NOT in my mind!

Sometimes you have to spend extra time with young and inexperienced champions to get the best out of them...whether race horses, footy players, etc etc etc.
David Fifita, with the world at his feet and million dollar contracts looming, is now "banged up abroad" ...behind bars in Bali Indonesia.

After the 2005 Bali bombings an older man rang talkback radio here and said: "Slow-learners are still going to Bali".

[bondi.boy]

So, what has Latrell actually done wrong?
Murdered anyone?
Bashed anyone senseless?
Any other serious crime?
No.

He's was the NRL's leading point scorer in 2019.

The contract;

$800,000 at Roosters
$1,100,000 @ Tigers say.
Difference $300,000 per season...$900,000 more over 3 years...$1.8m more over 6 years... $2.7m more over 9 years.

With all our contacts, can't we get 3rd party deals worth $200,000 a year...to get our offer up to 1M.
Car ad for example; "score points with a new red ....., Latrell does...he carries his family in one".
Bread wrappers..like Alfie did long ago.
"Latrell and his family eat ……… bread"..."score points every time you buy a loaf...when you reach so many points you get free bread, boots signed by Latrell...and free holidays."

Hire a Latrell whisperer...a good one.

All he's done is hire a new manager...maybe talked into doing it by people who sounded convincing.
Accepted a flashy car...maybe a loan car...very tempting for a young man.
Not be happy about being blamed by many for Blues' loss in SOO 1.
Maybe when he looks at Fittler he sees Roosters Board/Management.

Be overwhelmed at times by the rigours of the NRL...more players are taking breaks away from their sport to deal with 'mental issues', the latest one a cricketer only yesterday.

Wondering what he can get on the open market...yes there were ways to do it, none of which would probably have made Roosters officials happy.

Buzz reports today that a star manly player on $350,000 is disgruntled because of the turbo $10m deal done with Tom and bro.
He could probably get twice as much on the open market, reportedly.

Latrell wouldn't be the first young man to get carried away with his own importance.

Mind you, there are much older people than Latrell running around society saying "Don't you know who I am".

[easts4eva]

This has shades of 2004 with Hodges and Bennett all over it. This all happened before Nov1, where are the nrl on this. If it was the other way around east would have sanction after sanction slapped on them.

[Kelby]

The problem is we are always talking about Latrell. I, for one, am over him. Lets move on.
Lets buy Curtis Scott and we will save another 300k.
Resign TKO now!
Resign JWH, Friendy, Butcher and Tets.
We will be fine without Coops and Latrell. We still will be the favourites for a 3 peat!

A team of:

Teddy
Toops
Scott
Manu
Bmoz
Keary
Flanagan

Rads
Cords
Angus
SST
Friendy
JWH

Aubs
Butcher
Tets
Lui
Verrills
Smith
Hall
Sitili
Collins
Farmer


Looks damn good to me.

[ROC181]

So, what has Latrell actually done wrong?
Murdered anyone?
Bashed anyone senseless?
Any other serious crime?
No.

He's was the NRL's leading point scorer in 2019.

The contract;

$800,000 at Roosters
$1,100,000 @ Tigers say.
Difference $300,000 per season...$900,000 more over 3 years...$1.8m more over 6 years... $2.7m more over 9 years.

With all our contacts, can't we get 3rd party deals worth $200,000 a year...to get our offer up to 1M.
Car ad for example; "score points with a new red ....., Latrell does...he carries his family in one".
Bread wrappers..like Alfie did long ago.
"Latrell and his family eat ……… bread"..."score points every time you buy a loaf...when you reach so many points you get free bread, boots signed by Latrell...and free holidays."

Hire a Latrell whisperer...a good one.

All he's done is hire a new manager...maybe talked into doing it by people who sounded convincing.
Accepted a flashy car...maybe a loan car...very tempting for a young man.
Not be happy about being blamed by many for Blues' loss in SOO 1.
Maybe when he looks at Fittler he sees Roosters Board/Management.

Be overwhelmed at times by the rigours of the NRL...more players are taking breaks away from their sport to deal with 'mental issues', the latest one a cricketer only yesterday.

Wondering what he can get on the open market...yes there were ways to do it, none of which would probably have made Roosters officials happy.

Buzz reports today that a star manly player on $350,000 is disgruntled because of the turbo $10m deal done with Tom and bro.
He could probably get twice as much on the open market, reportedly.

Latrell wouldn't be the first young man to get carried away with his own importance.

Mind you, there are much older people than Latrell running around society saying "Don't you know who I am".

We know Latrell is a good kid but has allowed others to brainwash him against the club. It seems to me that you totally blame the club for all if this and if I’m correct, you have wished him good luck if and when he goes to Souths. In your rant you forgot to call Politis a mafia boss... it’s what all Souths fans do.

[Mickie Lane]

We know Latrell is a good kid but has allowed others to brainwash him against the club. It seems to me that you totally blame the club for all if this and if I’m correct, you have wished him good luck if and when he goes to Souths. In your rant you forgot to call Politis a mafia boss... it’s what all Souths fans do.

lol, those bloody random Souths supporters at Roosters games when the Roosters are playing someone else should be put up on the big screen & shamed.

[ROC181]

lol, those bloody random Souths supporters at Roosters games when the Roosters are playing someone else should be put up on the big screen & shamed.

Well can’t blame them. They want to see excellence so they pay their fee. The alternative is to watch their team playing b grade level.

[Mickie Lane]

Well can’t blame them. They want to see excellence so they pay their fee. The alternative is to watch their team playing b grade level.

lol, your killin me today Roc.

[Darkone]

I'm guessing Cord's would have Smith over Mitchell for next season

[TheLoneRooster]

I'm guessing Cord's would have Smith over Mitchell for next season

Agree, *if* there's truth to questions of team harmony.

Nice number plate.