Wayne Bennett will persevere with playing Latrell Mitchell at fullback for South Sydney – setting up one of the showdowns of the season when the Rabbitohs meet arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters next Friday.

Mitchell became the biggest storyline of the NRL summer when the two-time premiership-winner knocked back a two-year extension to remain playing left centre at the Roosters until the end of 2022.

The Roosters immediately called his bluff and pulled the offer off the table — sparking a month-long pursuit from the Wests Tigers and Gold Coast Titans before Mitchell eventually signed with the Roosters’ arch-rivals, the Rabbitohs.

Round 20

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Mitchell’s two appearances for South Sydney playing fullback have drawn intense scrutiny with a range of experts from Phil Gould to Braith Anasta all adamant he needs to move back to playing left centre.

But Bennett will push ahead with the plan to have Mitchell wearing the Rabbitohs No.1 jumper, setting up a blockbuster match against the club he was forced to walk away from at the end of last October.

There is still plenty of feeling between many of the Roosters’ senior players and Mitchell. The Roosters haven’t forgotten the way Mitchell attended the home of a Bulldogs Leagues club board member and was in secret talks to join Canterbury-Bankstown.

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THERE was literally a coat of paint between the Manly Sea Eagles and back-to-back premiers Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval.

Even though it was a low-scoring affair, what a cracking game. Brought back memories of the year the Roosters won the premiership in 2013 and beat Manly 4-0 in the finals.

Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary hit the upright with a field goal attempt five minutes before fulltime, before Daly Cherry-Evans stepped up for the Sea Eagles.

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In kicking the 21st field goal of his career, DCE showed what’s expected when you’re the NRL’s highest paid player. Deliver in the big moments.

On the flip side, the back-to-back premiers were clearly still coming to terms to life without Cooper Cronk. When Cronk was at the Tricolours, they rarely got beaten in these types of close games.

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D-Day is fast approaching for NSW State of Origin backrower Tyson Frizell in terms of whether he remains a Dragon or opts to join the Newcastle Knights next season.

Frizell initially planned on making a call on his playing future prior to round one but has since extended the deadline on making a decision.

The Dragons have tabled a three-year, $2.1 million deal while the Knights have also tabled a three-year deal.

How much of a role will the Dragons’ opening two losses weigh on Frizell’s mind? Surely it’s a big factor. The Dragons fell off the face of the earth last year to finish second last and, despite a star-studded roster, it’s the same old story again so far this season.

If the Knights can upstage the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, does Frizell opt to go and join the new Novocastrian era under Adam O’Brien?

The Dragons need to quickly regroup from the 0-2 start and prepare to head to Canberra on Thursday.

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At least captain Cameron McInnes is a chance to return for the round three clash against the Raiders. And the Dragons will get NSW Origin backrower Tariq Sims back from suspension.

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YOU’VE got to hand it to the Broncos in terms of roster management. New halfback Brodie Croft gets ruled out with an AC injury and they turn to young gun Tom Dearden, the rookie No.7 earmarked as a future NRL star. It’s a similar situation with Queensland Origin winger Corey Oates.

Oates will be missing with a rib issue, opening the pathway for the highly-rated Herbie Farnworth. Then another young gun will get a shot on the interchange, with Xavier Coates to become the new bench outside back coverage.

As much as South Sydney did a brilliant shut-down job on Payne Haas and David Fifita, it meant fellow young guns Thomas Flegler and Pat Carrigan were able to step up.

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PLENTY of people thought the Raiders might put a cricket score on the Warriors on Saturday but the New Zealand team showed some serious true grit.

Warriors CEO Cameron George has confirmed the Kiwi-based club will continue to be based in Australia and meet their NRL playing obligations for the foreseeable future. Their assignments don’t get any easier, they’ve got to face the Sea Eagles at Lottoland next Friday.