NSW coach Brad Fittler believes NRL star Latrell Mitchell can follow in the footsteps of Greg Inglis and make a successful transition to fullback.
Speculation about Mitchell’s playing future has intensified after he was photographed meeting North Queensland officials on Monday night as he tests the market.
It came as Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he believed his centre Mitchell wants to play fullback and the premiers will probably need to move on without him.
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Fittler believed Mitchell’s immense talent would allow him to make the trial positional switch.
“I reckon if Latrell puts his mind to it, I reckon Latrell can do anything,” Fittler said at a launch of Blues jerseys for next year’s State of Origin series.
“He’s an incredibly capable bloke.”
Mitchell has also been heavily linked with the Wests Tigers, having met with coach Michael Maguire in his hometown Taree last week.
The Kangaroos centre is being widely tipped to play fullback for the Tigers or Cowboys, making the same positional switch as recently-retired Inglis.
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A centre for most of his first seven seasons, Inglis transformed himself into one of the world’s best custodians at South Sydney.
He was fullback when the Rabbitohs’ ended their 43-year premiership drought under Maguire, who now holds the clipboard at the Tigers.
Fittler warned that Mitchell would be tested physically if he were to move to the back.
“There’s obviously challenges playing fullback,” Fittler said.
“I’m gathering he’d have to get a little bit fitter and if you look at the ground they cover at the moment, fullbacks, it is a tough job.
“You wouldn’t go into that lightly.
“But you look at Greg Inglis, he’s not the most aerobically fit bloke.
“Jarryd Hayne, they all did really good jobs at fullback.
“He’ll make it his own if he ends up playing there, I’m sure.”
Mitchell, who has one more year on his deal with the Roosters, revealed his next move would be to visit family in Cairns as he contemplates his decision.
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New Cowboys centre Esan Masters, who joins the club from the Tigers, said any NRL club would be lucky to have Mitchell.
The pair played SG Ball together at the Roosters in 2014.
“Look, if he comes to the Cowboys, all the boys would be welcoming. I’ll be welcoming,” Marsters told reporters on Tuesday.
“It’d be good to have him on your side rather than against you.
“If he comes to our side, it’s going to boost our backline. I think just give us a bit more X-factor. But there’s a lot of talent in this team.”
Fittler also confirmed Mitchell, who was controversially dumped from the Blues team after game one this year, would be invited to Origin camp in December.
