'He's got my back': Mitchell's message to Sloan after starring role
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After comforting a shattered Tyrell Sloan following his disappointing Charity Shield performance, Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell again reached out to the Dragons rookie to congratulate him for his starring role in Sunday night’s triumph against the Titans.
Sloan bounced back from an error ridden effort in the pre-season loss to South Sydney in Mudgee to score a try and set up another as St George Illawarra overcame a 12-2 deficit to triumph 32-18 and as he turned on his phone in the dressing room there was a message from Mitchell.
The World Cup winner, who had mentored Sloan in the Indigenous All Stars camp, was subjected to racial abuse during South Sydney’s 16-10 loss to Penrith last Thursday night.
However, Mitchell took the time on Sunday night to let Sloan know he had been thinking of him in his first match since the Charity Shield.
“I got a message from Trell just before, on the phone,” Sloan told reporters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. “He’s got my back and I’ve got his.”
The message said simply, “good game brother”, and the 20-year-old Dragons fullback returned the support after Mitchell was abused by a fan as he ran from the field at halftime in Penrith.
Sloan supported a suggestion by Indigenous All Stars halfback Nicho Hynes to offer the abuser a chance to be educated, rather than the life time ban many in the game have been calling to be imposed.
“For him to be one of the premier fullbacks in the comp and do what he does, he has a lot of respect from us players and it is just not on,” Sloan said of the racial abuse.
“I am a proud Aboriginal man and I haven’t experienced it yet, and I don’t want to go through it, but I feel for Trell. We have all got his back.
"All of us boys in the All Stars camp got amongst it and there is no room for racism, especially in this day and age.
“A young kid doesn’t know racism, so I think education is definitely the way to go.”
Sloan started the 2022 season in similar top form for the Dragons but lost his starting spot after three rounds.
With Cody Ramsey ruled out for the season, St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has few other genuine options for the No.1 jersey but Sloan is taking nothing for granted.
“I obviously want to play first grade and you put a lot of hard work into it, but I didn’t put myself in a position last year to continue in that No.1 jersey and that is probably why I lost it,” he said.
“This year I have changed my mindset, I have come in wanting to earn the respect of my team-mates and the coaching staff.
“I am still young, and I thought last year I probably tried to be a bit big for my boots instead of trying to find my way in grade. It is only one game this year and anything can happen still, so I have got to keep a cool head.
“No jersey here is anyone’s, no matter who you are or what you have done. ‘Hook’ has installed that into us in the pre-season. He is all about hard work and earning your spot.”
