"We made a bet with him to get past him and make it further then what he did," a 16-year-old Latrell said in 2012.
Matthew Mitchell was once touted as Rugby League's next best thing.
Personal problems derailed his career.
He vowed not to make the same mistake with his son's, Latrell and Shaq.
Growing up in Taree, Latrell says he had two options in life.
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"You either had two ways to go," Mitchell said on Tuesday.
"Get out of this town and make a name for yourself or you get another way and go to jail."
Now, Latrell is just won win away from playing in the grand final.
The Roosters face the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night in the second preliminary final.
