Latrell to control own fate in return

OVER to you, Latrell.

He may not have played in 177 days but South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell will be free to play as many minutes as he desires in Saturday night’s All Stars game in Townsville.

Indigenous coach Laurie Daley will allow Mitchell to decide when he needs a breather.

Mitchell (pictured) ruptured a hamstring tendon in an August 27 match against Parramatta last season and did not play again in 2020.

He will start at fullback for the Indigenous All Stars against the Maori All Stars, with Daley happy to let Mitchell run as long as he wants.

“If Latrell is flying and feeling good, there is no point taking him off,” Daley said. “I will ask him when he is feeling it to put his hand up. We will see how we go. If he is going well, we will keep him going and keep him out there. We will see how his motor is.

“Latrell will start at fullback and you’d expect he would have some time out of the game and then we’d put him back in.

“Latrell won’t play 80 minutes I wouldn’t think, I don’t think many would in this game.”

Mitchell has worked tirelessly through summer on his injury and will surge into the 2021 season fit and refreshed.

South Sydney teammate Alex Johnston is expected be shifted to fullback when Mitchell is replaced on Saturday evening.

“We will mix and match, to be honest. We have named Jack Wighton at centre but will give Jack a bit of time at fiveeighth,” Daley said

“I will try and give all of them a rest at some stage. It would be hard in this first game of the year — against that type of quality opponents — to play 80 minutes.

“When you have unlimited interchange, it’s good to give everyone a breather so they don’t have to play 80. We will give everyone a decent opportunity to play in their preferred positions.”