South Sydney have signed themselves an NRL Ferrari in Latrell Mitchell but it remains to be seen whether they have enough grunt up front to help him roar.
Mitchell shapes as the perfect replacement for Greg Inglis at fullback and potentially the Rabbitohs’ best player for the next decade.
Yet if there was one downside of his time at the Sydney Roosters it was his lack of touches at centre.
Andrew Johns – at the time a Roosters consultant – famously accused them in 2018 of having a “Ferrari in the garage” that “they never drive”.
That shouldn’t be a problem at fullback for the Bunnies.
Mitchell averaged 13.4 possessions a game at centre for the Roosters.
But according to Fox Sports Stats, he had 24.3 touches per game in his 16 matches at fullback for them in 2016, while his linebreaks, tackle busts and metres were also naturally up.
But all of that could mean very little if the Rabbitohs don’t give him a platform to work off.
Once possessing one of the most experienced engine rooms in the NRL, Souths have lost Sam Burgess, George Burgess and John Sutton from their pack in the space of an off-season.
Tom Burgess will become a regular starter with big minutes, while Liam Knight will be asked to step up and provide their power through the middle.
Cameron Murray’s move to the edge will allow for better defence on their left side and provide more size in the middle.
Rookie Keaon Koloamatangi is also an edge forward ready to rise with big raps on him.
“It could be a bit of a blessing in disguise that we didn’t play a lot of footy with George (Burgess last year), hooker Damien Cook told AAP.
“Obviously we would have loved to have him week in week out but we didn’t and we didn’t have Sam a lot either. We sort of got weened off those boys.
“And it meant a lot of the younger boys had to play a lot of football without them last year and they will be better for it this year.
“Liam Knight is going to step up and he’s just signed on for a few more years now so he knows it’s going to be his job to lead that pack.
“And Tommy Burgess you know what you will get from him.”
If Souths forwards stand up, there is no reason why the team can’t shine.
Their spine of Mitchell, Cody Walker, Adam Reynolds and Cook is one of – if not the – best in the competition.
Their centre pairing of James Roberts and Braidon Burns also has the potential to be dynamite, with the latter on the comeback from injury.
But still, so much attention will centre around Mitchell.
Roosters fullback James Tedesco has already warned he won’t be an overnight success, particularly given how much more work is required in the No.1 jersey.
Mitchell will have to back up on every break, move more in defence and feature as an option off the ball in attack to draw defenders and open up space for his halves.
The extra touches will also be notable, with Cooper Cronk suggesting his last will be just as crucial as his first.
But if it comes off, there could be no end to the reward for South Sydney.
“We’re going to see Latrell go to a different level, we’ve just got to make sure we use him the right way,” Cook said.
“We don’t want to burn him out in games.
“With him out the back there he is such an x-factor. He is so hard to handle one on one.
“His ball skills are already awesome to watch at training with some of the balls he throws.
“Hopefully for him we can do the right thing through the game with our forwards going forward and creating some momentum.”
RABBITOHS
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2019 – 3rd 2018 – 3rd, 2017 – 12th.
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Adam Reynolds
Key gains: Latrell Mitchell (Roosters), Bryson Goodwin (Warrington).
Key losses: John Sutton, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess (retired), George Burgess (Wigan), Dean Britt (Bulldogs), Kyle Turner, Adam Doueihi (Tigers).
Best team: 1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Braidon Burns, 4. James Roberts, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Tom Burgess, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Tevita Tatola, 11. Cameron Murray, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Liam Knight, Bench: 14. Corey Allan, 15. Keaon Koloamatangi, 16. Jaydn Su’a, 17. Mark Nicholls.
Predicted finish: 6th