MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Latrell Mitchell’s quiet off-season shows he is raring to go for South Sydney

If I had a few bob to spare after paying all my Christmas bills, I’d be putting it on Latrell Mitchell to win the Dally M Medal.

Everything I have read, seen and heard about Trell points to 2025 being his best season in South Sydney colours.

Being a former Rabbitoh and working in and around South Sydney territory, I am forever stopped in my tracks by Bunnies types telling me how he is ripping in at pre-season training and leading the way.

Best of all, it’s been all action and no talk.

We haven’t heard a peep from Latrell all summer and I like it that way.

The more he stays out of the papers and away from mugs on the internet, the better for him and the Rabbitohs.

He can do without those distractions and all the drama it brings.

Latrell has just put his head down, worked his arse off and trimmed that excess weight that was holding him back last year.

I realise that should be a given for any professional footballer on big money, but I know of players who still take short-cuts when they think no-one’s watching.

Wayne Bennett is always watching, even when you think he isn’t.

He sees and knows all and can tell when a player is resting on his shovel or having a genuine dig.

Some coaches you want to run through walls for because you know they’ve got your back.

Others ask you to go first and then take a couple of steps back.

I know who I’d rather rip in for.

Wayne is short on words but big on loyalty.

He’ll be right in your corner, through the thick and thin, as long as you earn and maintain his respect.

His return to South Sydney is the best thing to happen to Latrell and comes at a pivotal point in the fullback’s life.

Now 27, the superstar No.1 is hitting the prime of his rugby league career.

It’s the period where the very good players become great players.

It’s the time when premierships and Origin series are won and a player’s legacy is sealed.

We all know Latrell hasn’t consistently delivered over the past couple of years for a variety of reasons.

He’d be the first to acknowledge that.

The first step in his resurrection is getting him playing more football because he’s only averaged around 15 games a season since 2022.

Again, some of his absences have been out of his control and others due to decisions taken away from the field.

That’s where Wayne really comes into the picture.

He is more interested in re-engaging Latrell the person than Latrell the footballer.

A happy Latrell lifts the whole joint and you can see the impact he’s having on teammates already.

There’s a real fizz and buzz about their pre-season work.

And while it’s only early February and we’re yet to see one tackle, hit-up or kick return, I see Souths as the big improvers of this year’s competition.

I’m not about to tip them to win the premiership but I do believe they will make the top eight and give it a real shake, with one L. Mitchell leading the way.

That’s how much faith I have in Wayne Bennett to turn both player and club around.

And don’t get me started

I see Queensland last week celebrated the 30th anniversary of Fatty Vautin’s “Nevilles” winning the 1995 State of Origin series 3-0.

Good luck to them and I hope they enjoyed a big drink (even better if they’re downing Spuddwiser Ale instead of that dreadful XXXX!).

But can I just say one thing as they overcome their hangovers and sore shoulders from all the pats on the back.

As someone who played two games in that series - which did not include Super League-aligned players - can we please stop harping on about how the Maroons were complete unknowns.

Billy Moore, Trevor Gillmeister, Mark Coyne, Gary Larson, Adrian Lam, Robbie O’Davis, Jason Smith, Brett Dallas and Dale Shearer were hardly “Neville Nobodies”.

They were all bloody good footballers and genuine Origin players.

All of them were – or would become – internationals.

Yes, the Blues had the superior team on paper and should not have been whitewashed 3-0.

But we weren’t playing complete duds, so let’s not get too carried away.

Having said that, it’s obviously not a series I look back on with fond memories.

Any loss against the Cane Toads stings, even to this day.

If anything, I prefer to remember the ‘97 series.

With Super League players again on the sideline, we won 2-1.

I guess that old Queensland underdog spirit went missing that year!