Mitchell won the 2018 and 2019 premierships with the Roosters but has been public enemy number one for the club’s fans since defecting to rivals South Sydney in 2020.
Most memorably, the fullback laid a high tackle that left Joey Manu with a facial fracture in round 24 last season, ending the Roosters centre’s finals hopes through injury and his own through suspension.
The 41,900-strong Roosters home crowd booed Mitchell repeatedly in the Allianz Stadium opener on Friday night, especially when he attempted conversions.
The fullback told reporters at South Sydney’s media session on Tuesday that Goodes gave up his career because of constant jeering from AFL spectators.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“It was expected,” he said. “I did what I did over (at the Roosters). It’s a game of rugby league.
“They’re passionate and South Sydney are passionate. It’s two clubs going at it, foundation clubs. It’s very enjoyable being out there kicking goals.”
The extra attention extended onto the paddock, where the in-form Mitchell was a target for the Roosters defence all night long.
“I could tell they were going after me,” he said. “It’s warranted I guess. They really turned up, it’s a credit to them.”
The Rabbitohs have now qualified for finals in each year since Mitchell has arrived but Sunday marks the 25-year-old’s first playoffs appearance with the side.
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He missed the 2020 finals series through injury, watching on as the Rabbitohs punched above their weight to make a preliminary final from sixth place on the ladder.
Last year, Souths made it one game further but had to make do without the suspended Mitchell.
“I’ve recapped the last few years, I’ve had a think. I’m very excited and definitely grateful to be in the position I am,” he said.
“I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This is the time that I want to be playing footy. Everyone wants to be here at the end. Eight teams going at it and it starts this weekend.”
Townsend expects hostile Sharks reception
There is probably no halfback in the NRL who knows the quirks and intricacies of Cronulla’s Shark Park quite like Chad Townsend.
The North Queensland halfback played 146 games for the Sharks and won their maiden premiership in 2016 as their sole local junior before moving to Townsville this year.
But throughout eight seasons with Cronulla, Townsend didn’t play a single finals game at PointsBet Stadium.
Cronulla had to battle with the NRL to host a game at the 11,500-capacity ground but they considered it a fight worth having.
They have lost just one game at home all season under first-year coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
And Townsend knows the Cowboys, who were pipped to second spot by the Sharks, face a baptism of fire come Saturday’s qualifying final.
“It’s maybe the fans they really get into you, they’re super passionate and it’s because of them that it’s such a hostile environment,” Townsend told AAP.
“You don’t get many calls from the ref and the other thing is it can get really windy at night.
“On that field, anything goes and I guess that’s something that really excites me.”
If things had worked out differently Townsend could well have been playing for the Sharks this weekend.
He had an option in his favour to trigger a contract extension but declined it and then opted to switch to North Queensland.
It was a move that was met with scorn from some quarters, many arguing that Townsend hadn’t done enough in his recent campaigns with the Sharks to earn a payday in Townsville.
“We (Cronulla) played the Cowboys last year, and we absolutely pumped them and it was probably one of my better games,” he said.
“The next day I’m sat in a cafe with Todd (Payten) and he pitched to me about what they were after.
“That kind of blew me away and I went home to my wife and said: ‘I can be the guy they want me to be’. Within a few days I’d signed the contract.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Moving to Townsville – when the Cowboys had just finished 15th – wouldn’t appeal to many players.
Adding to that was the fact that Townsend’s his likely halves partner, Tom Dearden, was struggling after being chewed up and spat out by Brisbane.
But after 12 games alongside Townsend, 21-year-old Dearden had played a starring role in Queensland’s State of Origin win and is hitting the heights many good judges expected him to.
“I knew what he was feeling being a young half and having the pressure of running a team,” Townsend said.
“But he’s a kid who competes on everything and I was knocked back by his work ethic in pre-season.
“I knew then he was going to have a big year and it doesn’t surprise me the season that he’s had.”