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Souths stars Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray have lifted the lid on what made Latrell Mitchell so emotional in the aftermath of Souths’ win over the Roosters.
Mitchell was reduced to tears after helping guide Souths to a 30-14 win to advance to the semi-finals and Arrow revealed his post match interview was drowned out by the roars of the Souths’ faithful.
“It gave me goosebumps actually,” Arrow told foxsports.com.au.
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“I was mid-interview with a radio station and I couldn’t hear a question anyone was saying through the headphones.
“The crowd went absolutely berserk for Latrell when he came on the screen.
“That is just the passion he has for it. For his fans and his teammates and it gave me goosebumps listening to it.
“I actually said, can anybody hear this? It was absolutely ridiculous.
“It was the emotion of the fans giving back to Latrell because he gives so much to the fans and the club as well.”
There was conjecture that Mitchell’s emotional release was in response to being booed by fans the week before, but Arrow doesn’t subscribe to that theory.
“Yes and no, but they can boo himall they want,” Arrow said when asked if fans should start appreciating Latrell rather than booing him.
“If he keeps on doing what he did on the weekend they can boo him all they want.
“But as a teammate I have always got his back and I will always have his back.
“I am sure none of it phases him.”
Murray believes the fact Mitchell was playing just his first finals game since coming to the club played a big part in his emotional response to the win.
Injury robbed him of a finals appearance in his first year at Souths, while suspension cost him a grand final last season.
“That was Latrell’s first finals game since he came to the club,” Murray told foxsports.com.au.
“A big part of what he wanted to do this year was play finals footy and make sure that he was right to go on the field and he ticked that off.
“Then he ticked off another milestone in winning his first finals game.
“Anyone feels that emotion when you have got your face on the big screen and your fans are cheering for you. It is a good feeling.
“I think Latrell was just happy that he was out there and he got the win and he was able to feel and hear that passion from our fans and members because they do what they do every week and got out there in numbers and supported us.
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“It was electric and a big reason why we all love playing at this club is because of the support.”
Arrow believes Mitchell and the other Souths’ leaders were the reason the team was able to navigate such a crazy game and come out on top.
“I thought our leaders stood up on the weekend, especially Latrell and Cody and Cam Murray,” Arrow said.
“They always lead by example. And Cookie coming back from Covid he was good for us in the middle.
“When those boys are on the whole team will be on.”
A record seven sin bins came out of the win over the Roosters, but Arrow believes Souths let the emotion get the better of them the week before in a loss to the Roosters.
“I thought in the first game they beat us up physically,” Aarrow said of the Roosters.
“Physically they were up for it. I suppose they play with a lot more emotion.
“We knew we let the emotion get to us the first week, but we knew we had to come out ready to play footy. It was do or die footy and we are just lucky we get the opportunity to go again next week.”
Arrow admits the pain of the grand final defeat to the Panthers last year is driving him and his teammates, including Mitchell, who could only watch as the club’s grand final dream turned into a nightmare.
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“It will always be in the back of your mind, those losses definitely hurt,” Arrow said of the grand final defeat to Penrith.
“But it is more the mindset of moving forward and looking what’s ahead and that is Cronulla this weekend.
“It is do or die footy from here on out and we are just enjoying every challenge that is ahead of us.
“We are looking forward to going back to Allianz and hopefully seeing a packed house there and playing some good footy.”
Arrow and the Souths players won’t be taking the Sharks lightly after their stellar first season under Craig Fitzgibbon.
“They have been a great attacking side and I think they have gone under the radar with their defence,” Arrow said.
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“They have been a great defensive side as well. I think they were second in the competition.
“So we are going to have to be on in both defence and attack.
They have been a great side and Craig Fitzgibbon who has come in as a rookie coach this year has done a tremendous job.
“The players they have bought have gone really well. Nicho Hynes is having a tremendous season and they bought the leadership with Dale Finucane as well.
“With those boys there this year they are firing and they will definitely be up for it.”
Arrow is hoping another packed house at Allianz on Saturday will lend support to Souths calling the stadium home full-time next season.
“Absolutely and no doubt there will be a lot of Souths fans,” Arrow said.
“I thought they did a great job on the weekend to cheer for us and get up and yell and scream.
“There was a lot of emotions for both sides, but it was good to see the Souths fans and the Souths flags flying on the weekend.”
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