Charity Shield

[Eric]

South Sydney Rabbitohs Latrell Mitchell free to play St George Illawarra in Charity Shield​

Latrell Mitchell is free to play his first game in six months for South Sydney in the traditional Charity Shield. The NRL superstar will make his comeback in the annual pre-season clash against St George Illawarra in Mudgee on Saturday February 26, despite being ineligible for rounds one and two of the 2022 NRL season due to a suspension from last year. Under NRL rules, players guilty of a grade three offence and higher are ineligible to play in trial matches until their suspension is complete.

Mitchell was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle charge for his high shot on Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu in round 24 of last season. The fullback’s season was brought to a shuddering halt with a six-game ban after Manu suffered a fractured cheekbone from the collision. In accepting the charge, Mitchell missed four of the Rabbitohs’ remaining matches of the 2021 season, including the grand final defeat to Penrith.

He must serve the last two matches of suspension in round one and two of the 2022 NRL season. The NRL has no issue with the NSW State of Origin star playing in the Charity Shield at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Oval. However, Mitchell — like all suspended players — isn’t permitted to play in representative matches, including the NRL Indigenous and Maori All Stars.

The South Sydney coaching staff have been impressed by the 24-year-old throughout their pre-season training block, displaying a clear desire and motivation to continue his maturation as a footballer. Mitchell’s on-going development as a leader within the South Sydney squad will prove crucial in 2022 following the departure of Adam Reynolds, Dane Gagai and Benji Marshall.

Mitchell hasn’t played since August and his return for the pre-season fixture against the Dragons is a similar path he took ahead of last season. Rabbitohs fans will recall Mitchell was devastating during a 40-minute stint in last year’s Charity Shield. He set up three tries and scored one himself to put St George Illawarra to the sword by halftime.

Mitchell’s inclusion in the Charity Shield is based on providing the NSW Origin star with vital match-conditioning ahead of his much-anticipated NRL competition return in round three against arch-rivals, the Roosters. The March 25 clash at Accor Stadium will have no shortage of storylines to aid the promotion of the clash, with Mitchell facing his former club and also Manu, for the first time since their drama-charged collision.

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I'm glad he is playing. In trial games we need to be tested against the best the opposition has to offer. How many years is it since we won this game? Not that it really matters but I'd prefer to win providing there were no injuries and like other trial games, various combinations and players in different positions are trailed.

 

[Morgan]

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell free to play St George Illawarra Dragons in Charity Shield​

Latrell Mitchell is free to play his first game since August for South Sydney in the traditional Charity Shield. The NRL superstar fullback will make his comeback in the annual pre-season clash against St George Illawarra in Mudgee on Saturday February 26, despite being ineligible for rounds one and two of the 2022 NRL season due to a suspension from last year. Under NRL rules, players guilty of a grade three offence and higher are ineligible to play in trial matches until their suspension is complete.

Mitchell was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle charge for his high shot on Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu in round 24 of last season. The fullback’s season was brought to a shuddering halt with a six-game ban after Manu suffered a fractured cheekbone from the collision. In accepting the charge, Mitchell missed four of the Rabbitohs’ remaining matches of the 2021 season, including the grand final defeat to Penrith.

He must serve the last two matches of suspension in round one and two of the 2022 NRL season. The NRL has no issue with the NSW State of Origin star playing in the Charity Shield at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Oval. However, Mitchell — like all suspended players — isn’t permitted to play in representative matches, including the NRL Indigenous and Maori All Stars.

The South Sydney coaching staff have been impressed by the 24-year-old throughout their pre-season training block, displaying a clear desire and motivation to continue his maturation as a footballer. Mitchell’s on-going development as a leader within the South Sydney squad will prove crucial in 2022 following the departure of Adam Reynolds, Dane Gagai and Benji Marshall.

Mitchell hasn’t played since August and his return for the pre-season fixture against the Dragons is a similar path he took ahead of last season. Rabbitohs fans will recall Mitchell was devastating during a 40-minute stint in last year’s Charity Shield. He set up three tries and scored one himself to put St George Illawarra to the sword by halftime.

Mitchell’s inclusion in the Charity Shield is based on providing the NSW Origin star with vital match-conditioning ahead of his much-anticipated NRL competition return in round three against arch-rivals, the Roosters. The March 25 clash at Accor Stadium will have no shortage of storylines to aid the promotion of the clash, with Mitchell facing his former club and also Manu, for the first time since their drama-charged collision.

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I'm glad he is playing. In trial games we need to be tested against the best the opposition has to offer. How many years is it since we won this game? Not that it really matters but I'd prefer to win providing there were no injuries and like other trial games, various combinations and players in different positions are trailed.

It's been 10 years. Literally.

 

[jodragon40]

South Sydney Rabbitohs Latrell Mitchell free to play St George Illawarra in Charity Shield​

Latrell Mitchell is free to play his first game in six months for South Sydney in the traditional Charity Shield. The NRL superstar will make his comeback in the annual pre-season clash against St George Illawarra in Mudgee on Saturday February 26, despite being ineligible for rounds one and two of the 2022 NRL season due to a suspension from last year. Under NRL rules, players guilty of a grade three offence and higher are ineligible to play in trial matches until their suspension is complete.

Mitchell was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle charge for his high shot on Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu in round 24 of last season. The fullback’s season was brought to a shuddering halt with a six-game ban after Manu suffered a fractured cheekbone from the collision. In accepting the charge, Mitchell missed four of the Rabbitohs’ remaining matches of the 2021 season, including the grand final defeat to Penrith.

He must serve the last two matches of suspension in round one and two of the 2022 NRL season. The NRL has no issue with the NSW State of Origin star playing in the Charity Shield at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Oval. However, Mitchell — like all suspended players — isn’t permitted to play in representative matches, including the NRL Indigenous and Maori All Stars.

The South Sydney coaching staff have been impressed by the 24-year-old throughout their pre-season training block, displaying a clear desire and motivation to continue his maturation as a footballer. Mitchell’s on-going development as a leader within the South Sydney squad will prove crucial in 2022 following the departure of Adam Reynolds, Dane Gagai and Benji Marshall.

Mitchell hasn’t played since August and his return for the pre-season fixture against the Dragons is a similar path he took ahead of last season. Rabbitohs fans will recall Mitchell was devastating during a 40-minute stint in last year’s Charity Shield. He set up three tries and scored one himself to put St George Illawarra to the sword by halftime.

Mitchell’s inclusion in the Charity Shield is based on providing the NSW Origin star with vital match-conditioning ahead of his much-anticipated NRL competition return in round three against arch-rivals, the Roosters. The March 25 clash at Accor Stadium will have no shortage of storylines to aid the promotion of the clash, with Mitchell facing his former club and also Manu, for the first time since their drama-charged collision.

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I'm glad he is playing. In trial games we need to be tested against the best the opposition has to offer. How many years is it since we won this game? Not that it really matters but I'd prefer to win providing there were no injuries and like other trial games, various combinations and players in different positions are trailed.

Be interesting to see our line up we certainly need to give a run to our new signings, I really like the look of our engine room this year so hopefully they will get a run and we can see where we are at

 

[Morgan]

Be interesting to see our line up we certainly need to give a run to our new signings, I really like the look of our engine room this year so hopefully they will get a run and we can see where we are at

I think our engine room is a huge improvement on last year and we still have McGuire to be available a few weeks into the season. He was the only middle forward top consistently make decent metres last season. At least in the games he played.

 

[jodragon40]

V8 this year if everyone is firing, 4 cylinders last year even with people firing, its going to make a big difference to our go forward this year I would be shocked if with that pack and the rotation that can be achieved that we are not top 8 contenders if not top 4. In my days of playing and coaching, a long long time ago coaching not at NRL but Cup level, I paid particular attention to ensuring we had muscle and go forward in the pack because without that you can have the australian backline but if they are going to be gang tackled before they can move or pick up speed you are going to lose more games than you win, so the recruitment of these players although no longer considered top shelf will help us greatly this year in my humble opinion. Dont forget injuries and suspension aside you are only really asking the 4 props, Woods/Molo/Lawrie/Burgess to play half a game of footy, 20 min each half now thats a bonus in anyones language. Looking forward to this season

 

[Chris M]

I think our engine room is a huge improvement on last year and we still have McGuire to be available a few weeks into the season. He was the only middle forward top consistently make decent metres last season. At least in the games he played.

JDB consistently made metres in the games he played. He and McGuire were the only ones and they didn't make "good" metres. Only consistently decent.

 

[jodragon40]

JDB consistently made metres in the games he played. He and McGuire were the only ones and they didn't make "good" metres. Only consistently decent.

Back in the 80s I insisted and challenged my pack to run 100 yards p.p. in a game, it was not always achievable in fact most times, but if you could get half the pack running 100 yards in those days you were well into any contest it then came down to the individuals ability, your attacking plays, and of course how good the opposition were. But it was always instilled in any of my teams that try as hard as you can to reach the advantage line and if possible get over it. RL hasnt really changed that much over the years

 

[Chris M]

Back in the 80s I insisted and challenged my pack to run 100 yards p.p. in a game, it was not always achievable in fact most times, but if you could get half the pack running 100 yards in those days you were well into any contest it then came down to the individuals ability, your attacking plays, and of course how good the opposition were. But it was always instilled in any of my teams that try as hard as you can to reach the advantage line and if possible get over it. RL hasnt really changed that much over the years

Last year making 100m a game was the exception for our pack. Paul Vaughan was a shadow of his former self.

 

[jodragon40]

Last year making 100m a game was the exception for our pack. Paul Vaughan was a shadow of his former self.

Yes im a stats person and when 3 or more of our forwards achieve that magical 100m we either won the game or were in it. Im sure that I am not the only one who realises how important it is to be rolling forwards in the ruck. This season I hope we can consistently have 3 or 4 players running that 100m in saying that we have a 4 prop rotation so they may not have to actually achieve that mark to have us competitive

 

[Eric]

Yes im a stats person and when 3 or more of our forwards achieve that magical 100m we either won the game or were in it. Im sure that I am not the only one who realises how important it is to be rolling forwards in the ruck. This season I hope we can consistently have 3 or 4 players running that 100m in saying that we have a 4 prop rotation so they may not have to actually achieve that mark to have us competitive

Is that right? Well, that proves it. A big pack rolling forward = a winning team. Added to that, we need our wingers helping out much more. Ravalawa did it really well but was suspended for a large part of the season. Ramsey didn't do it. Word is he has packed on the muscle and coach Griffin specifically mentioned him so I think he is going to be much better as well. He had better be or one of the Feagai's will take his spot.

 

[jodragon40]

Is that right? Well, that proves it. A big pack rolling forward = a winning team. Added to that, we need our wingers helping out much more. Ravalawa did it really well but was suspended for a large part of the season. Ramsey didn't do it. Word is he has packed on the muscle and coach Griffin specifically mentioned him so I think he is going to be much better as well. He had better be or one of the Feagai's will take his spot.

Its not that easy I am just being simplistic, dont know if Ramsey is a fullback time will tell. Most of our young blooded players last year will gain from those experiences and yes most looked like they could do with an extra 5 to 10kg of weight and muscle but that will happen in time. We have the nucleus of a very good football team in the future. I do like the look of Tyrone he reminds me of Peachey the sharks fullback of days gone by the way he moves and glides over the field he just needs work on his positional defensive plays, because, just my view, defensive calls from the fullback is highly important in todays game. Feagais well they are promising but eventually you need to turn promising into actions and being consistent and performing at the highest level. Cant tell you back in the day the number of promising players that never actually made it past park football.

 

[Chris M]

Is that right? Well, that proves it. A big pack rolling forward = a winning team. Added to that, we need our wingers helping out much more. Ravalawa did it really well but was suspended for a large part of the season. Ramsey didn't do it. Word is he has packed on the muscle and coach Griffin specifically mentioned him so I think he is going to be much better as well. He had better be or one of the Feagai's will take his spot.

I thought one of the Feagai's may start on the wing and be up to Ramsey to force his way into the team.

 

[Eric]

Its not that easy I am just being simplistic, dont know if Ramsey is a fullback time will tell. Most of our young blooded players last year will gain from those experiences and yes most looked like they could do with an extra 5 to 10kg of weight and muscle but that will happen in time. We have the nucleus of a very good football team in the future. I do like the look of Tyrone he reminds me of Peachey the sharks fullback of days gone by the way he moves and glides over the field he just needs work on his positional defensive plays, because, just my view, defensive calls from the fullback is highly important in todays game. Feagais well they are promising but eventually you need to turn promising into actions and being consistent and performing at the highest level. Cant tell you back in the day the number of promising players that never actually made it past park football.

Sloan looks the goods. According to Griffin, he has also packed on the muscle. It'd be nice to have a fullback who can power though as well as slip passed defenders. No one expects him to become another Latrell Mitchell but don't need another Dufty when it comes to returning the ball from kicks and making metres generally.

 

[jodragon40]

Sloan looks the goods. According to Griffin, he has also packed on the muscle. It'd be nice to have a fullback who can power though as well as slip passed defenders. No one expects him to become another Latrell Mitchell but don't need another Dufty when it comes to returning the ball from kicks and making metres generally.

He impressed me greatly last year playing behind a beaten pack that wasnt going anywhere in a hurry, can you imagine if he had that extra yard of room and that extra few seconds of time what he could achieve? I remember watching Changa play and because we had a decent pack he just moved beautifully found the gaps sliced through had esp with billy smith they were the days. Another who young Sloane reminds me of is Lord Ted now couldnt he just play so if he is anywhere near as good as those 2 dragon legends then ill be a very happy red v supporter

 

[RedV01]

Sloan looks the goods. According to Griffin, he has also packed on the muscle. It'd be nice to have a fullback who can power though as well as slip passed defenders. No one expects him to become another Latrell Mitchell but don't need another Dufty when it comes to returning the ball from kicks and making metres generally.

He impressed me greatly last year playing behind a beaten pack that wasnt going anywhere in a hurry, can you imagine if he had that extra yard of room and that extra few seconds of time what he could achieve? I remember watching Changa play and because we had a decent pack he just moved beautifully found the gaps sliced through had esp with billy smith they were the days. Another who young Sloane reminds me of is Lord Ted now couldnt he just play so if he is anywhere near as good as those 2 dragon legends then ill be a very happy red v supporter

Dufty was playing behind a beaten pack. Behind a really good pack, I think Dufty will go really well.

 

[Eric]

Dufty was playing behind a beaten pack. Behind a really good pack, I think Dufty will go really well.

Maybe but Sloan was better behind an even worse pack due to the suspensions at the end of last season.

 

[Morgan]

Dufty was playing behind a beaten pack. Behind a really good pack, I think Dufty will go really well.

Griffin throw out a few reasons why Dufty wasn't resigned but I think he was merely being polite. The truth is just that Sloan is much better.

 

[jodragon40]

Dufty was playing behind a beaten pack. Behind a really good pack, I think Dufty will go really well.

Dufty has what every coach looks for lighting speed but speed alone can only get you so far. Yes your correct he was playing behind a poor pack but his size and defensive positioning were his archillies heel. Personally I would have loved to see him off the bench as a hooker he would have been a great attacking option problem is the greatly increased defensive workload may have negated that. Obviously coach also believed that

 

[Morgan]

Dufty has what every coach looks for lighting speed but speed alone can only get you so far. Yes your correct he was playing behind a poor pack but his size and defensive positioning were his archillies heel. Personally I would have loved to see him off the bench as a hooker he would have been a great attacking option problem is the greatly increased defensive workload may have negated that. Obviously coach also believed that

I hated seeing opposition manhandle him. If he could tackle, he may well have made a great hooker.

 

[jodragon40]

I hated seeing opposition manhandle him. If he could tackle, he may well have made a great hooker.

Interested in seeing how he goes at the dogs