Wayne Bennett is eager to mastermind a reunion with Bunnies gamebreaker Latrell Mitchell in the NRL’s 17th team, with a monster $4,000,000 deal the ‘carrot’ he’s using to lure one of the game’s most dangerous players north to Redcliffe.
The Dolphins—and supercoach Wayne Bennett—have had to suffer miss after miss in their bid to sign a true marquee star to spearhead their maiden NRL campaigns.
From Cameron Munster and Harry Grant to Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga, the Redcliffe expansion team have been side-eyeing every star player that hits the market (without much success, The Sporting Base would add). Now, Latrell Mitchell is the latest premium player in their targets, News Corp is reporting.
Bennett wants the 25-year-old for three years from the 2024 season.
It’s not cheap change either: Mitchell would find himself paid around the tune of $4 million for those first three seasons of service. It would make him one of the game’s biggest earners and the beating heart of the Dolphins.
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Of course, nothing is set in stone by any means yet—and it’s all a year away.
The Rabbitohs aren’t too happy about Bennett taking to the media either. The Dolphins helmsman said he was “very interested” in recruiting the Blues star, though he later added that shouldn’t come as a surprise; if Latrell hits the open market, he said, “all sixteen other teams will be chasing him.”
Mitchell is less worried about the interest, all things considered. The Taree junior actually commented on Bennett’s quotes in a presser earlier this week.
It was all very tongue in cheek from the Bunny.
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“I am second choice Wayne, am I?” he said, in reference to Bennett suggesting Munster “still remains target number one” in Redcliffe’s hunt.
Mitchell’s response to that was: “I can’t be second choice!”
In a more serious tone, however, Mitchell said he was leaving everything to his managers and the Rabbitohs CEO, Blake Solly, and that he was simply focusing on the NRL finals on the horizon.
The Sporting Base can confirm nothing official has been tabled for Mitchell by Bennett and the Dolphins yet. For the time being, only South Sydney can talk to their number one. Once November 1 rolls around, it will be open season—if the Rabbitohs haven’t tied their main man up by then, of course.
South Sydney are expected to table a similar three year deal for Mitchell, though more to the tune of $800,00 across the three seasons.
