South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has dismissed as a “terrible idea” the suggestion that Latrell Mitchell’s salary should be tied to the number of games he plays, as the injury-plagued star continues his recovery.
Mitchell, 29, resumed light running at training on Thursday as he fights to return in 2026. He has not played since round nine and is battling nerve damage detected in his recovery from back and calf injuries. He is consulting a neurologist and remains a week-by-week proposition.
Bennett backs Mitchell
Bennett said he “of course” holds out hope Mitchell will return to boost Souths’ finals push. “He does too, he wants to play. It’s not that he’s trying to avoid playing. It’s something we’ve got no control over,” the coach said.
“We’ve got good people around him, experts in their field. We’ve just got to wait and see.”
Injuries have meant Mitchell has not played more than 20 games in any season since joining the Rabbitohs in 2020. He has played fewer games in seven years with Souths (95) than he did across four seasons at the Sydney Roosters (96).
Contract speculation dismissed
Media reports this week suggested future contracts for Mitchell could tie his seven-figure salary to games played. Bennett said he would never impose such clauses. “It’s a terrible idea. I’m not interested in that,” he said.
“It’s just a bit of misfortune that players have problems. It’s not because him or Tom don’t do all the work and all the training or whatever. You’ve either got a contract or you haven’t, you’re not going to make one up for how many games you play or something like that. That’s not going to happen. Not in the good clubs, anyway.”
Injury carnage at Souths
David Fifita’s two-game ban brings rookie John Radel onto an edge for his third NRL game, and first start, against Melbourne on Friday night. “He’s had a couple of games and I’ve been pleased with what he’s done so he’ll start tomorrow night,” Bennett said.
Fifita’s failed judiciary bid continued a tough week for Souths, who have lost captain Cam Murray and in-form Tallis Duncan to short-term soft-tissue injuries. Murray was initially ruled out for up to a month, but Bennett hopes he may only need “a week or two” to recover from a calf problem.
