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NRL 360 host Paul Kent has issued Latrell Mitchell a warning to rise above the criticism after South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar declared himself an “entertainer”.
The 25-year-old has been electrifying since his Round 16 return against the Parramatta Eels, crediting his injury rehabilitation stint in the United States.
This week a confident, happy Mitchell urged fellow NRL stars to unleash the inner showman.
“Latrell Mitchell declares himself the entertainer,” Braith Anasta announced.
“I love it he has been a different person, a different player this year a different attitude which again has showed with his form on the field.
“Confidence and then urging other players to go to another level.”
While Anasta enjoys the antics of the former Rooster, The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent questioned whether Mitchell could handle the criticism that could come his way.
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“I think about it look I don’t think anybody disagrees with what he says,” Kent said.
“The one thing that’s going to be a problem is that not everybody’s going to like it and when the criticism comes for the showmanship, because some people like their footballers old fashioned Braith believe it or not.
“They like a bloke who just scores the try, gets up and puts his head down and walks back into position.
“Other people they’re all about the big sell in the game, I get all these different ideas and things people like but the fact is it’s great for Latrell to say that, I hope he backs it up but when the detractors come as they will, he’s just got to be above that.
“To be fair he hasn’t shown a great capacity in the past to be able to just shrug off the haters and they’re always going to be out there, no matter what you do.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said maturity would play a big part and urged Mitchell to be himself.
“Seriously they have to be the minority the people that applaud a player walking over the try line putting a footy down.
“Give me Latrell every day of the week.”
While panel members shared a variety of opinions, The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley implored players to simply be themselves.
“I’d rather people be real, be who you are,” Crawley said.
“Do you honestly think any less of Tom Trbojevic if he’s humble, gracious?
“Does Tom have to get there and trash talk and carry on to make him more sellable.
“If it works for (Latrell) good luck, but not everyone has to be the same.
“One of the great things about rugby league is that it’s a game for all shapes, all sizes and all personalities.
“We don’t have to be America.”
Kent had a piece of advice for the Rabbitohs star, comparing his on-field theatrics with one of the greatest boxers of all time.
“The trick for Latrell is whatever he does and I don’t know what he’s going to come up with and how explosive he’s going to be with all this,” Kent said.
“But the trick’s to keep a wink in your eye and to let people know they’re in on the joke, not that the joke’s at them.
“If you can do that and bring people along with you, like you look at Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali the greatest athletic showman we’ve ever had always had a wink in his eye.
“No matter what he said he could sit there and he’d be giving George Foreman a hard time and he’d look over at someone and give him a wink and everyone would go ‘oh I’m in on the joke’.
“That’s the trick to it, but if it’s serious and people can be turned off by that, but if it’s seen as good lighthearted fun go for your life.”
While Anasta is a fan of the charisma Mitchell plays with, he wanted to make him aware that he would have to take on the jeers that would come with it.
“I love it and I think he should keep doing it, it’s working for him and if you’re going to confront Latrell Mitchell they can win any game Souths if he plays,” Anasta said.
“The only thing I would say is that it does put a target on his head because he’s running back doing this.
“I love it, it’s great but you’ve got to be able to handle the criticism.”
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