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Mitchell ready to cover for Rooster Keary

3 minute read

The Sydney Roosters will call on match-winner Latrell Mitchell if Luke Keary fails to recover from a head knock for their Anzac Day clash with the Dragons.

LATRELL MITCHELL of the Roosters scores a try during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
LATRELL MITCHELL of the Roosters scores a try during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The Sydney Roosters will call on match-winner Latrell Mitchell if playmaker Luke Keary doesn't get up for their Anzac Day clash with St George Illawarra.

Keary was assisted from AAMI Park midway through the second half of their golden point 21-20 win over Melbourne on Good Friday after clashing heads with Storm fullback Jahrome Hughes.

"He's in good spirits but he wasn't good enough to go back on," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said of Keary.

"It's only six days to our next game so he will have to nail every day to get right for Anzac Day so I wouldn't know how he's going to be but he will have to improve every day."

Mitchell shifted from the centres to five-eighth and helped marshal the Roosters as they repelled the Storm revival, before he kicked the winning field goal in the second minute of extra time.

The Roosters shaped to send the ball to ex-Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, but instead found Mitchell who kicked it true from 40m out.

"Cooper ended up being the ultimate decoy there and they rushed him and then Latrell, with his long left foot nailed it," Robinson said.

The 21-year-old Kangaroos representative is settling into the five-eighth role, starting two games there this season and also shifting there against Brisbane.

"That's adaptability from your team," Robinson said.

"I thought when he went to five-eighth (against Melbourne) he did a really good job and it was a great way to finish the game."

As well as the field goal Mitchell scored their opening try and then set up another as he fended off his Storm opposite Curtis Scott and winger Suliasi Vunivalu before off-loading to James Tedesco.

The coach felt blessed to have talent such as the Mitchell at his call.

"It's great to watch and his ability to express himself and have time is something to behold," Robinson said.

"To see that happen in the first half and then for him to do that right in the 81st minute - that's Latrell."

The Roosters also lost prop Siosiua Taukeiaho to a back injury in the warm-up before kick-off while Cronk was very ginger after the match after receiving some special attention from his former Storm teammates.

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