Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has it. So does Tom Chester and Jaxon Purdue at the North Queensland Cowboys. Ditto, Kalyn Ponga at the Newcastle Knights, Leka Halasima at the New Zealand Warriors, and virtually any player in the Dolphins’ back line.
When it comes to the one player with genuine X-factor heading into the NRL finals, Penrith ace Nathan Cleary, himself a top-shelf game-breaker, said there was one rival who stood out – South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell.
Mitchell punched out half an hour against the Gold Coast Titans in his return from a nerve issue in his lower back and leg last Saturday, and will build on those minutes again against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
The 29-year-old centre looms as Souths’ trump card this September because of the way he can influence a game with one play.
According to Cleary, the bigger the moment, the better Mitchell performs.
“When you watch him, it’s like everyone grows around him,” Cleary told this masthead.
“He’s such a big presence on the field. For someone so big and powerful and strong, and so fast and skilful as well – he epitomises X-factor.
“I feel like when the moment gets bigger, he rises to it always. That’s usually a telling factor of a great player.
“Every time I’ve taken the field with him, I feel like he’s done something incredible.
“He’s one of those guys when you look back at the end of your career, you’ll be able to say, ‘I got to play with that guy’, and some of the stuff he’s been able to do is incredible’.”
Mitchell won two premierships at the Roosters, and needs little motivation lifting for Friday, even though half the opposition’s top players have been given a breather.
His return, which was no sure thing a month ago, has been welcomed by his teammates.
“When you’re tying your boots up before a game, you look across, and you see Cody [Walker] and Cam [Murray] and Latrell, it gives you a massive confidence boost, and if you do your job, you know they’ll put points on the board,” back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi said.
“He’s come from the Roosters. It’s extra special for him. There’s nothing better than beating your old club. They know he’s one of the best players in the comp, and they try to stop him, but not many people can.”
Skipper Murray added: “It always makes a little more comfortable and confident knowing he’s out there next to you on the field.
“Hopefully, he can continue to build his game fitness, and inch towards the form he showed at the start of the year.”
Mitchell was in top form for about a month earlier in the year, with a try against the Knights, when he stormed over the top of Ponga, one of the season highlights.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett was mindful about the narrative of Mitchell being Souths’ saviour.
“They’re not much value to you if they don’t play well; let’s see what happens Friday,” Bennett said.
Latrell Siegwalt has been named on the extended bench and will spend time in the centres if Mitchell needs a short spell. Tallis Duncan has done an excellent job in the centres while Mitchell was out, but he is one of the few Souths players given a freshen-up ahead of next week’s final, which is expected to be against the Knights on a Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
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