‘It’s too late’: Gus’ grim verdict over Latrell’s future

League legend Paul Gallen believes South Sydney needs to take responsibility for the behaviour of Latrell Mitchell after his latest indiscretion, but Phil Gould believes it’s “too late” for the star to change his ways.
Mitchell was handed a breach notice by the NRL after a photo emerged on social media. It was an unfortunate outcome from Mitchell’s trip to Dubbo considering he and Isaiah Tass paid a visit to Country Hope during their time there, along with taking photos and signing autographs on the Sunday.
Mitchell is now set to front South Sydney’s board to explain his actions.
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After a number of discretions in recent years, Gallen believes the Rabbitohs need to be held accountable.
Latrell Mitchell.  Getty
“Are South Sydney going to take any responsibility here? Why does Latrell act the way he acts? Why does Latrell get involved in things he’s not supposed to be involved in? He’s so outspoken. Why isn’t Latrell at South Sydney games? Because Souths don’t make him. No one at Souths is holding Latrell responsible,” he said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“Now they’re going to come in and fine the bloke and put certain clauses in his contract, I find that really rich from the South Sydney club.
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“Latrell behaves the way Latrell behaves, because he’s allowed to behave like that. The club never pull him up. Has anyone at the club ever pulled him in, sat him down, and said you can’t do these things, you can’t do certain things, you’re not doing the right things by yourself, you’re not doing the right things by the club?
“I’m not having a go at anything with that photo and what’s happened there. My issue is, I feel it’s a bit rich for Souths to come in and try and discipline him now when they’ve allowed him to behave like this constantly, over and over and over, year after year and never pulled him up. I think the way he behaves is partly their fault because they’ve allowed it to happen.”
However, Gould believes the onus needs to be on Mitchell.
The league icon previously called on the Souths fullback to “show respect” after he was in trouble earlier in the year for swearing during a radio interview.
Many believe the arrival of Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs will lead to the best of Mitchell on and off the field, however Gould says that’s a “cop out”.
“Latrell’s a grown man. He’s not a boy anymore, he’s not a rookie and that’s just an excuse to say, ‘if Wayne comes, I’ll behave myself’,” he said.
“Well what if Wayne doesn’t come? Does that mean you’re going to keep doing what you’re doing? You’ve got take accountability for your own actions.
Phil Gould believes Wayne Bennett’s arrival is a “cop out” for Latrell Mitchell.  Nine/Getty
“As a football talent, elite, absolutely elite, one of the best in the game. No doubt Wayne Bennett’s going to South Sydney to win, so he needs Latrell. So he’ll make all the excuses for Latrell and suddenly he’s going to sprinkle magic dust on him and Latrell’s going to behave and everyone can live life happily ever after but that’s a cop out.
“This has been going on for a long, long time right throughout Latrell’s career and there is a lot of people responsible for it. Most of it is Latrell … he’s the one that’s got to be accountable. So now the excuse if Wayne’s coming, I’ll be accountable. It won’t, it’ll happen again.”
Gould was further asked if there’s still time for Mitchell to improve his professionalism on and off the field.
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The Bulldogs general manager didn’t think so.
“Is it too late for him to be a professional athlete that does everything right? 100 per cent it is,” he said.
“He doesn’t want to do that, I’ve said that for years. He doesn’t want to do that, he wants to be this Latrell, that’s what he wants to be and everyone’s allowed him to do that, they’ve allowed him to get away with it.
“Latrell’s let himself down, a number of people have let him down along the way. Wayne will come in for a couple of years and win some games with him and all that … but it’s not going to change him, it’s not going to change what he wants to do.”