Indigenous star Latrell Mitchell has revealed both the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights missed out on his services when he was a junior.
The 28-year-old has appeared on The Hello Sport Podcast to discuss many aspects of his life, in his first podcast/show appearance in more than two years.
Mitchell imposed a media ban on himself in early 2024, after he produced an expletive filled rant during an interview with Triple M.
But he’s now opened up, and revealed both the struggling Bulldogs, and inconsistent Knights teams overlooked him when he was coming through the ranks.
‘Well the Knights (were) definitely No.1,’ he replied to a question about which clubs knocked him back.
The prodigious talent really sunk the boot into the Knights, disclosing he isn’t the only star who has been let off its radar.
Latrell Mitchell (pictured) has revealed two NRL clubs overlooked him as a junior
Mitchell (pictured) has become one of the NRL’s biggest stars
‘But they’ve done that to a few lads, you know, Payne Haas, Hudson Young, you know,’ Mitchell said.
The NSW Origin representative then shattered Bulldogs fans’ hearts, by claiming team officials didn’t think he’d be good enough to make first grade.
‘Then I went to trial for the Doggies (Bulldogs), and they said I would never play rugby league.
Podcast co-host Eddy Simpson then questioned Mitchell, asking ‘Did they say that, like did they just verbalise that to you?’
‘They didn’t say it to me, but I know they said it in an email to someone,’ Mitchell replied.
Fans of both the Knights and Bulldogs have now voiced their frustration with hearing the news.
‘Who the f*** was running Newcastle scouting back then?’ one person wrote.
‘As a bulldogs fan…. I’m so sorry please come back,’ another said.
The 28-year-old (pictured) has represented NSW at State of Origin level on several occasions
Mitchell (pictured) won two premierships with the Sydney Roosters before moving to the Rabbitohs
Mitchell has been in scintillating form for the Rabbitohs this season, and is firming for a spot in the NSW Origin team once again.
The star fullback will first need to get through South Sydney’s Magic Round clash against the Dolphins in Brisbane as he recovers from a back injury.
But coach Wayne Bennett has backed his superstar to be fit and ready for the Origin opener on May 27 at Accor Stadium.
‘No, I don’t think he will be in doubt,’ Bennett said.
‘He’s got some treatment for it. He’s reacted pretty well to it all, so hopefully, we might have him back next week.
‘But if not, he’ll certainly be right for New South Wales. State of Origin is two and a half weeks away at least, so he’ll certainly be right by then.’
