NRL Round 10 – Rabbit in the Vineyard: Why Latrell is Latrell.

 

 

 

 

FIRST NAME BASIS: WHY LATRELL IS LATRELL

2025 NRL Round 10

South Sydney v Brisbane

Friday 9 May, Sydney Olympic Stadium, 8pm

 

A South Sydney win for the ages!

Down 0-14 at half-time, due to some schoolboy errors both in defence and under the high ball, Souths then kept the visitors scoreless in the second half.

Following tries to Havili and Tass, Latrell then gave South Sydney the lead with an audacious two-point field goal, from 49m out.

Latrell, returning from suspension for his fifth game of 2025, starred at both ends of the field.

As a fullback, Latrell’s work rate has been questioned by some. He is no Dylan Edwards. On his day, he is a match winner. Without a long list of talent (all injured) including Cody, Murray, Wighton, Johnston and Munro, Latrell took it upon himself to lead the South Sydney charge after half-time.

In summary, Latrell is referred to here by first name only because he is capable of performances such as these. Is this ‘Ronaldo – Maradona’ type reference tongue in cheek? To a point, yes. Ditto for Cody (Walker).

Latrell has dominated Origin matches for New South Wales, has won premierships at his previous NRL club. More of this for South Sydney, please Latrell!

As is often the case with Latrell, there was a talking point: on full-time, Latrell moved in to acting half, then went down on one knee, body language read: ‘game over, I’m crouched here, game definitely over’. Latrell being Latrell, he then dived over the line to score a try from one metre out, with the Broncos players quite understandably thinking “hang on, we are done here, play had ceased!”

Of course, this passage of play sparked much discussion around gamesmanship. Fortunately, Souths lead 16-14 before the last-second Latrell try.

Souths move on to play the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Sunday evening. The Tigers are coming off a 0-64 mauling at the hands of the Storm.

Frankly, Souths need to play in the same manner as they did after half-time last Friday night, more often, starting with the Tigers, a team on the same number of competition points as the Rabbitohs heading into Round 11.

After the bye in Round 12, Souths then move on to face much sterner tests against top four opposition in the Warriors, Canberra, Canterbury and Melbourne.

 

 

 

George Piggins-Clive Churchill-Mario Fenech inspirational play:

 

Latrell’s two-point field goal, from 49m out. An inspirational moment, if ever there was one.

 

Latrell Mitchell 48m field goal

 

 

The Rampling Brothers-Charlie Frith-Ian Roberts tackle of the match:

 

Two try saving tackles from Latrell, one in each half. Exhibit “a” on the rampaging Payne Hass, exhibit “b” on the runaway Dene Mariner, deep into the second half with the game well and truly in the balance. This was classic cover defending, as Mariner finished over the sideline, metres from the corner post.

 

The Phil Blake chip n chase best attacking moment

 

There were several in the second half. Isaiah Tass’ try after busting through the tackle of his opposite Kotoni Staggs was a well worked move down the left side. Latrell’s conversion added to the Rabbitoh’s momentum.

 

 

FULL TIME: South Sydney 22 d Brisbane 14

 

Souths points: tries (3) Havili 43’, Tass 52’, Mitchell 80’, goals: Latrell 4, field goal (2 point)

Half time: Brisbane 14-0

Penalties: Brisbane 7-6

Referee: Peter Gough

Crowd: 13, 747

 

Souths line up: Latrell (captain), Bentley-Hape, Taas, Graham, Myers, Sullivan, Humphreys, Arrow, Havili, Koloamatangi, Aitken, Duncan, Hubner. Bench: Gray, Keppie, Moale, Le Blanc

 

 

 

Highlights

 NRL Match Highlights 2025 | Rabbitohs v Broncos | Round 10

 

Press conference

‘You ask a lot of silly questions’ Wayne reacts to Latrell | Rabbitohs Press Conference | Fox League

 

SOUTH SYDNEY FULL WEEKEND RESULTS

NSW cup – bye

U/21 Jersey Flegg won14-6 v Kaiviti Silktails

 

RABBIT IN THE VINEYARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

3 – Latrell, 2 – Keon Koloamatangi, 1 – Lachlan Hubner

 

Progressive points:

 

17 – Jye Gray, 8 – Jamie Humphreys, 7 – Lachlan Hubner 5 – Keon Koloamatangi & Campbell Graham, 4 – Latrell, 3 – Tallis Duncan, Jack Wighton, Jai Arrow, 2 –Sean Keppie, 1 –  Davvy Moale, Peter Mamouzelos, Cody.

NB: 2023 and 2024 winner: Cameron Murray

 

 

Barossa red wine of the week:

 

Sunday, what a day!

 

Mother’s Day. Lunch at Hentley Farm, then a visit to Wonderground which includes the art gallery and the Mirus vineyards. The Barossa at its finest. A delightful sunny afternoon in a beautiful part of the world.

 

2023 Wonderground Grenache Mataro Cinsault

 

 

 

 

Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia.  His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the (injured – for the season) South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen

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