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The Live Sport Bible is here!The real Latrell: Bennett's bush ace fills Bunnies void
George Clarke, AAP • May 10th, 2026 3:26 pm
Debutant Latrell Siegwalt impressed when replacing injured star Latrell Mitchell for South Sydney | Photo: PR IMAGE
As far as challenges go in the NRL, being called Latrell and playing left centre for South Sydney is quite a tall order to live up to.
But Latrell Siegwalt - the man brought in to replace the injured Latrell Mitchell - did a fair job on Saturday, playing a key role as the Rabbitohs belted Cronulla 36-12.
"The real Latrell turned up," quipped Souths coach Wayne Bennett, whose Bunnies (6-3) solidified their grip on a top-four spot.
Latrell Siegwalt challenges Cronulla's defence on Saturday | Photo: PR IMAGE
Mitchell, Bennett said, was likely to return for Friday's Magic Round clash with the Dolphins.
But if the damaging Souths centre doesn't recover from a minor back injury, the coach has a more than capable replacement in Siegwalt.
The 25-year-old kicked six goals and had two try assists in his NRL debut on Saturday where he had to source 120 tickets for family and friends who made the trek to Accor Stadium from his hometown of Wagga Wagga.
"He (Mitchell) teases me and says you're named after me," Siegwalt said.
"It's a bit of an irony, isn't it? I still look up to him, he's still one of my idols."
Latrell Mitchell will likely be back to face to Dolphins on Friday | Photo: Jason O'BRIEN/AAP
While Mitchell was always destined for stardom his namesake has taken the long way round, toiling in bush footy in Gundagai before starring in the Koori Knockout for Walgett Aboriginal Connection.
"I got player of the tournament (at the 2023 Knockout) and Redcliffe picked me up," Siegwalt said.
"Jack (Wighton), Ben (Barba) and Isaiah Tass were in that team.
"Obviously playing in a team like that gives you a lot of belief and then you just play with confidence."
After Redcliffe, Siegwalt then played at Brisbane Broncos feeder club Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup.
Latrell Siegwalt scores for Brisbane in a pre-season challenge match last year | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
He gave up a teaching job working with Indigenous school children to pursue an NRL career when he moved to the Rabbitohs over the summer.
He could finish the year with an international cap too given he has held talks with France coach Laurent Frayssinous over his availability for this year's World Cup.
Siegwalt's paternal grandfather is French but for now the "real Latrell" is keen to keep standing up for Bennett.
"He's a simple man but I love him," Siegwalt said.
"He tells you what you need to do and when you hear that you want to go out and do a job for Wayne."
