‘It brings them down’: Calls for Latrell switch amid ‘energy’ issue to save Souths’ season

Calls are intensifying for Latrell Mitchell to switch to centre as Souths grapple with the threat of a wooden spoon finish. With their current struggles, betting against Souths' performance may prove a savvy choice for punters.

There are again calls to move Blues star Latrell Mitchell to centre at club level when Jye Gray returns from injury as Souths face the real prospect of winning the wooden spoon.

SOUTHs were expected to be one of the real movers in 2025 amid the return of Wayne Bennett, but due to a horror casualty ward they find themselves fighting to get off the bottom of the ladder with nine rounds to play.

While injuries have played a part, Gorden Tallis believes the balance of the side was better when Gray was at fullback because he offers more energy out of the back-field.

“Call me mad but it looked like when Jye Gray was back at fullback the side had a bit more energy,” Tallis said on NRL 360. “Maybe Latrell should move into the centres like we have seen at Manly with Tom Trbojevic.”

However, Braith Anasta believes that is unlikely. “I don’t think that is going to happen,” Anasta said.

But Paul Crawley believes Bennett and Souths have to consider a permanent move to the centres for Mitchell because they lose too much out of the back-field with him at fullback.

“I think it has to be considered at some stage because you can see the player Latrell is, he is an absolute weapon when you get up to that other end of the field,” Crawley said. “Against the Warriors a few weeks ago, he nearly won the game in 20 minutes.

“But the energy he brings out of the back of the field, it brings them down. “Look at Kaeo Weekes on the weekend and what he does for Canberra and what Hammer did for the Dolphins when he played Souths.

“Souths don’t have that energy coming out of the back of the field. “Jye Gray if he is not the fullback, at least give him a go in the halves. That’s where he played his junior footy.”

Anasta noted Mitchell used to get Souths out of trouble on his own in the past, but that is not working anymore.

“When Latrell used to turn it on and he still does, but when he used to turn it on, they would just win, there was no other result,” Anasta said. “But now when he does turn it on and plays great, which he has been doing given the circumstances, they are still struggling.

“It is a bit of a battle for them and Cody being out of the team for the majority of the year doesn’t help either.”

Tallis pointed to Mitchell’s success in the centres at representative level and believes the time has come to move him back to centre permanently.

“I would play him in the centres,” Tallis said. “I do think he is a Ferrari and you don’t need to put that many miles on the clock.

“I think he can have an impact at centre. I watch him at State of Origin level and it is the hardest game to play.

“To’o scored all those tries because he is outside Latrell. I think he can have an impact with any number he puts on his back, but I wouldn’t put him at fullback.”

However, Crawley noted that Souths also have urgent issues to address in their halves after carrying a $750,000 recruit in reserve grade all season.

“The first thing that has to change next year is there has to be a resolution on Dodd,” Crawley said. “I know the club has said they are not going to push him out and he has got a three-year deal, but it is just an ongoing problem until it is resolved because he is not playing first grade there, it is $750,000 on the cap.

“They have had some terrible luck with injuries, but that is one burden they have to swallow.”

And Crawley believes the fact the club is putting their faith in an ageing Cody Walker next season, who will turn 36 in 2026 just shows they don’t have the depth in the playmaking stocks.

“It also shows where they are at the fact they are offering Cody another year,” Crawley said. “He has got the class that the players around him haven’t got, so the club is in a position where they do have to offer him a deal next year.

“But does that mean that they got the roster right? No, it means they got it wrong.”

There are again calls to move Blues star Latrell Mitchell to centre at club level when Jye Gray returns from injury as Souths face the real prospect of winning the wooden spoon.

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