Latrell's Teammates give revealing Insight

Even before Mitchell's future was the subject of constant speculation and the star centre suffering several setbacks as clubs turn their back on him, Mitchell was rattled and distressed during the Australian team's end-of-season games. Several of Mitchell's Kangarooteammates have told me he was constantly complaining about the length of the season and the intensity of always being under pressure, just wanting the season to end. The long year clearly got to the talented centre, and hopefully he can resolve his future quickly and set his mind at ease and get a well deserved break from the unwanted limelight.

Centre: Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic v Michael Jennings and Solomone Kata

Mitchell finished the year as a grand final and Origin-winning centre and arguably the best in his position in the NRL. Trbojevic was huge on the wing for the Blues and at fullback for Manly but has relatively few starts at centre at the top level.

He made 18 tackles with none missed last week to suggest the increased defensive work won't trouble him but is still feeling his way in attack. Former Kangaroo Jennings remains a world-class centre and had a fantastic 2017 but like plenty of his Eels teammates had a tough 2018. Kata is hard to handle but can still produce worrying defensive reads.

Verdict: the form of Mitchell swings this to the Kangaroos.

How will the Kangaroos’ new look spine gel?

Australia are officially in the post-‘Big Three’ era with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater having either retired from representative football or retired altogether. In their place comes a brand new attacking brains trust in James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Daly Cherry-Evans and Damien Cook. Tedesco and Cook have been absolute standouts in their positions this season and were two of NSW’s best in the State of Origin series.

Luke Keary would count himself lucky to be called up into the side after Cameron Munster’s withdrawal, but he’s by no means undeserving of the honour having finished the season strongly for the Roosters, guiding them to a premiership win with a Clive Churchill Medal performance. Cherry-Evans is no stranger to the Kangaroos side with 11 Tests to his name, but it’s been a while between drinks with his last appearance coming all the way back in 2014. The Manly star, who has been named vice-captain, has a terrific chance to show he can dominate at the highest level after coach Mal Meninga claimed the side was now “his team”.

Which Roosters centre will get the bragging rights?

The match-up between Sydney Roosters young guns Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu looms as one hell of a mouth-watering battle. The pair will go head-to-head after impressive seasons for the Tricolours with their performances a big reason behind the team’s grand final victory.

Not many opponents get the better of Mitchell, but Manu could have the upper hand having played with him throughout the Roosters junior grades and into NRL.No doubt their friendship will be put aside for 80 minutes on Saturday.

Mitchell ready to rip into Manu in Test

Latrell Mitchell can't guarantee he'll spare good friend Joseph Manu from a verbal onslaught when the Roosters centre pairing go head-to-head in the trans-Tasman Test. One of the highlights of Saturday's clash in Auckland will be the meeting of dynamic Kangaroos firebrand Mitchell and rising Kiwis star Manu, who played key roles in the Roosters' premiership. Both are making their international debut in what will test the bonds of friendship forged through the junior ranks of the Sydney club.

Kangaroos fullback James Tedesco can't wait to see his club mates lock horns, believing two of rugby league's brightest talents bring with them contrasting styles. Quietly-spoken Manu has been a kingpin on defence throughout 2018 while Mitchell's attack was virtually peerless, along with his ability to impose himself mentally on opponents through verbal and extra-physical means. A prime example was his dominance over accomplished Melbourne Storm opposite Will Chambers in the grand final and during the State of Origin series. "I don't think Latrell will be carrying on too much against Joey because Joey's too nice but we'll see how they go," Tedesco said. However, 21-year-old Mitchell wasn't so sure he will contain himself, especially given how much it means to wear green and gold for the first time. "I don't want to say too much. I don't like to talk about how it will be at the weekend," he said. "I'm competitive, he's going to be competitive. Aggression just comes out. People take it as being grubby or what-not but it's just how I play. "I just want to beat my opponent at the other end." Mitchell said texts have been exchanged but he wasn't keen to show too much "respect".There will be few secrets between the pair given they've trained against each other for so long.

Latrell Mitchell is the latest player to be suspended for a key final

THE Roosters will be hoping to win their way through to the grand final to prevent Latrell Mitchell from remembering this season for all the wrong reasons.Throughout the last 20 years only 15 players have been suspended in finals football. Of the teams that those 15 players represented, only three went on to win the grand final.The Broncos in 1998, the Roosters in 2002 and the Rabbitohs in 2014 are the only teams to win a grand final in the last 20 years, when one of their
players has been suspended in the finals.Mitchell was suspended for the preliminary final, after he unsuccessfully challenged a charge for a crusher tackle on Josh Dugan.The Roosters need to beat the winner of the semi-final between the Rabbitohs and Dragons next week, to save Micthell the anguish of costing his side a premiership.We looked at five of the most infamous finals suspensions and found out just how catastrophic a finals suspension can be for a side.However despite sometimes denying a player the opportunity to play in a grand final, history shows teams can overcome suspensions to some of their best players to win it all.