Jan 20th, 2020

Jan 20th, 2020

Newcastle are eyeing South Sydney duo Adam Doueihi and Alex Johnston to give their backline a late tune-up before the new season starts.

With hooker Danny Levi set to join Manly, the Knights have a bit of room to move in the salary cap.

They are likely to sign either Doueihi or Johnston, but not both.

Souths are prepared to give either a release, so it is just a question of which of the pair is most to the liking of Knights coach Adam O'Brien.

Both are very versatile performers - Doueihi can play just about anywhere in the backline, while Johnston has shown he can handle wing, fullback or centre.

South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Adam Doueihi. (Getty)

BRONCOS YOUNG GUN KNOCKS OFF VETERAN

Youngster Jake Turpin looks set to beat former Queensland State of Origin rep Andrew McCullough for the Brisbane hooking spot in a sign a major changes at the Broncos this season.

After a dismal finish to their 2019 campaign, the Broncos are a club in need of a shake-up - and McCullough looks likely to be among the first to go.

The veteran hooker is still highly regarded at Red Hill and he is a 50-tackles-a-game man who can hold up the middle.

But youngster Turpin is a far more dynamic player out of dummy-half and has the ability to spark the giant Broncos pack into action.

He also has a close association with new half Brodie Croft, who coach Anthony Seibold is hoping will provide the direction in attack that was so badly missing last season.

Word from the Broncos camp is that Turpin has his nose in front of McCullough at this early stage, although both will have a chance to impress in the trials.

Broncos hooker Jake Turpin. (AAP)

LATRELL FOLLOWS IN DAD'S FOOTSTEPS

This picture, almost 30 years old, is one of the main reasons that Latrell Mitchell will wear the famous red and green colours of South Sydney this season.

It's a photo of the Rabbitohs' SG Ball team of 1991, which includes future first graders Duncan McRae, Paul Mellor, Shannon Donato and Paul McNicholas.

But also in the team - in the front row fourth from left - is Latrell's father Matt, who was a gun teenager recruited from the bush.

Matt spent a couple of years at the Bunnies, but got homesick and returned to the country, where he played out his days.

Father and son are very close and there was no prouder man than Matt when Latrell decided to follow in his footsteps to Redfern - albeit in vastly different circumstances.

The 1991 Rabbitohs SG Ball team, with Matt Mitchell fourth from the left in the front row. (Supplied)

Latrell Mitchell with his father, Matt, after signing at South Sydney. (Getty)

FAREWELL TO A LEGEND, HARD MAN

Everyone who was around football in the 1970s has their favourite Mark Harris story - a testament to the talent and strike power of the Roosters legend who lost a long battle with cancer last week.

Mine comes from a game the week before the 1975 grand final, when the champion Roosters team beat Manly.

Early in the second half, Harris heard a loud 'crack' - his ankle broken and his grand final dream shattered along with the bone.

The big man tried to play on despite the obvious pain but medical staff ordered him off.

A stretcher was brought out but Harris would have none of it.

He simply WALKED all the way from the centres of the SCG to the famous Members Stand sheds, refusing to show the pain.

Tough man, tough era.

A service for Mark Harris will be held at Palm Chapel at Macquarie Park Crematorium on Thursday at 2:15pm.