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Roosters' Mitchell eyes Meninga record

Sydney Roosters star Latrell Mitchell has set himself the task of doing what no NRL player has done in 30 years.

Latrell Mitchell
Latrell Mitchell says he enjoys the extra pressure of taking the kicking tee. (AAP)

They say Mal Meninga was one of the toughest players to bring down.

But Sydney Roosters NRL star Latrell Mitchell has invited comparisons after setting himself the audacious task of emulating Meninga's feat of claiming both the pointscoring and try-scoring titles in the same season.

The Canberra legend remains the only player to do so since 1990.

With the Roosters opening their premiership defence against South Sydney on Friday night, Mitchell is eyeing off Meninga's crown.

"I try to set goals - high tryscorer, high pointscorer, them little things - but I think the main goal is getting to the end, grand final," Mitchell told AAP.

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The 21-year-old had an unforgettable 2018, starring for the Roosters in their premiership triumph, while making his Kangaroos and NSW Origin debuts.

In his first year as goal kicker, he also finished five points shy of Brisbane wiz Jamayne Isaako for the pointscoring title.

Mitchell said he enjoyed the extra pressure of taking the kicking tee.

"(Sio Siua Taukeiaho) had the job, then he passed it onto me and I took it with both hands and practiced after every training session," he said.

"I enjoy that part, kicking the goals."

While most of his teammates basked in their success with a celebratory trip to Las Vegas late last year, Mitchell opted to wind down at home in Taree.

He also chose to represent the Indigenous All Stars side over flying to Europe for the club's World Club Challenge triumph against Wigan.

And the league's premier centre insisted he had no regrets.

"To win a grand final, that was as much of a buzz as I could put it down to," he said of his decision to forego the Vegas trip.

"We spend a lot of time with our teammates through the year and I thought, 'I want to go get away and spend some quality weeks with my family.'

"Mentally I just love going home, connecting with my community and getting back. My family's up there and it's a good, quiet place to get away.

"I just follow my heart, trust my decisions. I want to achieve what I want to achieve. I don't want to achieve what someone else wants me to achieve."


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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