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A laughing Latrell Mitchell revealed he told Benji Marshall not to run the ball in tonight’s clash between the Native All Stars and the Maori All Stars, highlighting his deadly footwork.
Marshall will race for his beloved Maori All Stars for the first time when the two cultures collide at North Queensland Stadium, a match between Marshall and his new South Sydney teammate Rabbitohs Mitchell.
Marshall was at the peak of his career in his four appearances for the now-defunct NRL All Stars roster between 2010 and 2013, embarrassing defenses with his breathtaking step.
But Mitchell suggested the legendary playmaker park his trademark footwork for his return to the All Stars arena.
“I’m just going to tell him not to run the ball. He knows. I told him ahead of time anyway,” Mitchell said on the Today show.
“He’s probably going to take a little step aside and shimmy and run away. It’ll be interesting.”
If Mitchell’s words on his own play are any indication, the Native All Stars’ weapon footwork will not be hampered in his comeback game after a hamstring rupture.
The two-time winner of the first prime minister’s post has not played an official game since a hamstring injury ended his 2020 campaign in Round 16, limiting the former Rooster’s first season to the Rabbitohs just 14 games away.
But Mitchell said he was in the lead for the All Stars game.
“I’m fine. I’ve worked pretty hard for my recovery,” Mitchell said.
“Well done to the recovery team, the medical team and the physiotherapists at Souths.
“I’m doing great, I’m doing a little more every day so I’m really confident in the way I’m going to be.”
The NRL has been holding an All Stars exhibition match since 2010, but a Maori team was not formed until 2019.
The indigenous side defeated the Maori 34-14 in 2019, before the Maori retaliated in a 30-16 victory in 2020.
The clash is a chance for NRL players of Indigenous and Maori descent to celebrate their culture as the season dawns – and it’s of huge importance to Mitchell.
“It’s about coming together and obviously it’s for Maori culture as well,” Mitchell said.
“They are practicing the same things that we used to do and still do today.
“It’s really something special to be able to be a part.
“I know for this week the boys are really looking forward to it and I think it sets us up for the 2021 season.”
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