Latrell Mitchell has been confirmed to make his NRL return in Round 22, with the Rabbitohs fullback locked and loaded heading into the business-end of the campaign.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined for the past two months with a calf injury, ruling him out of the entire State of Origin series and a plethora of crucial games for South Sydney.
During his absence, the Bunnies have won just two games and lost five, including a disappointing performance against the Broncos last weekend.
But in a major boost for the ninth-placed side, Latrell will wear the No.1 jumper against the Tigers on Friday night and help kick-start their push into the NRL finals.
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Jason Demetriou confirms Latrell Mitchell return
Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou confirmed the star fullback will line up and add plenty of spark to their lineup.
“He’s playing – he was very close last week, but we made the decision to make sure we got that extra load into him and make sure he is able to fire on all cylinders," Demetriou said.
"The injury has been fine for a few weeks, but it’s about being able to handle 80 minutes of footy… you’ve got to prep your muscles to be able to handle the load.
“It’s been really frustrating – he’s been really upset about it. He loves playing here and he loves being out there with his mates, and he loves playing Origin. To not be able to do any of it, it’s been a tough road.
"The team needs a bit of a boost, we all do, but the most important thing is he’s ready to go. We’ve missed the energy he brings and the voice that he has around the place, that’s good for some of our other key players.
“Over the last six or eight weeks, we’ve been very separate with Origin and injuries, blokes in and out. It’s good to have the group and good to have that feeling of connection."
Early in the season, Latrell was among the best performers across the entire competition, scoring nine tries and registering nine try assists in 12 appearances.
Blake Taaffe has done a solid job at the back in recent weeks, but the confidence the NSW and Kangaroos star brings to the Bunnies is unrivalled.
NRL greats explain importance of Latrell Mitchell to Rabbitohs
While the buzz within the four walls at Redfern ahead of Latrell's return is evident, there's also a valid excitement across the league as the marquee superstar prepares for a comeback.
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns believes with the fullback returning to the side, Souths can push for a top-four berth and even compete for a premiership in 2023.
“He gives everyone confidence around him," Johns said.
"He opens up that left-side with Cody [Walker], which then unlocks Alex Johnston. He gets around Damien Cook, he gets around Cam Murray – he is huge. I think they make a big statement this week, I think they have a huge win.
"He’s gonna lift them so much and by all accounts, hearing from the outside-in, he’s been driving the standards at training… he rubs off on everyone.
"They’ve got a good run... I think they’ll win maybe every game. For me, the top-four are Penrith locked in, Brisbane locked in and you’re gonna have Cowboys, Storm and Rabbits going for those other two positions."
NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler also explained how Latrell could make a difference without the ball in hand, with the Bunnies leaking an average of 29.4 points per game during his seven-game stint on the sidelines.
“Saving points has been a problem lately," he said.
"It’s just his knowledge at fullback and getting the numbers right, that’s gonna be one of the most important points.
"They rely on their defence so much… and their defence just hasn’t been good."
Why was Latrell Mitchell out?
After suffering a calf injury during State of Origin camp prior to the series opener, Latrell Mitchell has been sidelined for two months, but will finally return in Round 22.
Latrell Mitchell 2023 NRL stats
| Games | 12 |
| Tries | 9 |
| Try Assists | 9 |
| Linebreak Assists | 14 |
| Linebreaks | 3 |
| Tackle Breaks | 61 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 121m |
