- Latrell Mitchell has lost weight and is training hard
- Star showed up at training 8kgs lighter than usual
- Bunnies fullback is on a very strict fitness regime
Latrell Mitchell has had a dramatic transformation during the off season, returning to pre-season training 8kgs lighter than usual – and it’s down to two big changes in his life.
The mercurial fullback has been working hard on his fitness in recent months following a white powder scandal that saw the NRL hand the 27-year-old a one-match ban and a $20,000 fine.
He will serve out that suspension at the beginning of next season, with the footy star not playing due to a footy injury since the Rabbitohs’ 32-16 defeat by the Eels on July 4.
While sidelined, Mitchell has been taking every step to get back to peak fitness and prove to coach Wayne Bennett that he means business.
This week he showed up to preseason training at 107kg – around 8kg lighter than he usually is before preseason training gets underway.
Latrell Mitchell has returned to preseason training around 8kg lighter than he was during his troubled 2024 season
The Souths star’s new look is a dramatic departure from how he appeared as suspension, injury and his white powder scandal took a toll in 2024
Souths superstar has cut alcohol and processed foods from his diet – and as this photo of him with his family in the offseason shows, the results aren’t hard to see
His secret to stripping the weight is pretty straight forward – diet and exercise.
According to News Corp, Mitchell has cut out all booze and processed foods, and is focusing on eating lean meats and fruit and vegetables.
In early November, the Souths superstar demolished a bar in his house and turned it into a gym – with weights, yoga mats and a sauna.
The Bunnies plan to strip Mitchell down to around 102kgs before Christmas, before bulking him up with strength training to around 108kg for the start of the season.
Bennett, who has reportedly given the underperforming side a blistering review of their 2024 season, says he’s not concerned about Mitchell.
‘Latrell’s fitness won’t be an issue for me,’ the coach said in October.
‘I haven’t spoken to Latrell lately but if he’s in shape, that’s great to hear.
‘He has been dealt with by the NRL and the club [over the white powder saga].
Latrell Mitchell showed off his impressive transformation at preseason training for Souths on Wednesday (pictured)
Mitchell recently revealed that he has been making several changes to his lifestyle to get fitter and healthier, notably demolishing a bar in his house and replacing it with a gym (Mitchell is pictured after gym equipment was delivered to his home)
‘I’m not there with Latrell at the moment but I’ll know a lot more about him in a month’s time.
‘They are all professionals and Ben Hornby (interim coach) did a great job late in the season.
‘Souths were in a tough place (following the sacking of coach Jason Demetriou), but they got out of that and they are back to being a footy team again.’
The Rabbitohs will be hoping they can deliver their best this season after they slumped to finish second from bottom in the NRL ladder having lost 17 games last season.
It was a far cry from their endeavours in 2021 and 2022, where the Bunnies first reached the Grand Final before going on to be knocked out at the preliminary final the following year.
