Coach Wayne Bennett has declined to commit to keeping Latrell Mitchell in the halves following South Sydney’s heaviest defeat of the season—a 32-0 drubbing by Canterbury on Good Friday.
Mitchell was shifted to the centres after a difficult opening half at Accor Stadium, during which he struggled and made two crucial errors that led to Bulldogs tries.
Souths finished the match with Jack Wighton and English recruit Lewis Dodd in the halves, as Cody Walker was forced off with a fresh injury.
Jayden Sullivan is expected to return from suspension for next week’s clash with Melbourne, but Bennett remained non-committal about Mitchell’s future role as a playmaker.
“I wouldn’t say he won’t play in the halves,” Bennett said. “We’ve got to pick a new team next week, and we’ve probably picked up a couple of injuries. Right now, I’m just trying to get the best team on the field, not necessarily players in their preferred positions.”
Mitchell has only filled the playmaking role out of necessity and could revert to fullback or play in the centres. A return to the No. 1 jersey would require a new role for Jye Gray, who’s been a standout in Souths’ 4-3 start.
Bennett said he withdrew Walker to manage his workload, noting the veteran hadn’t had a full pre-season and risked fatigue.
He was more cautious in his assessment of Dodd, who debuted under challenging circumstances.
“I wasn’t sure how I’d use him,” Bennett said. “I pulled Cody because the game was beyond reach and he was fatiguing. I can’t fairly judge Lewis on today—he came on when the scoreboard looked bad. But I felt he deserved the chance.”
