Latrell Mitchell's family friend Anthony Mundine has urged the out-of-favour Sydney Roosters star to "get as much money as he can" as the race for the representative centre's signature heats up.
Mitchell has quickly become the NRL's hottest free agent after Sydney Roosters sensationally pulled their two-year $1.6 million contract offer, with Wests Tigers emerging on Wednesday as a potential suitor along with Canterbury.
The Bulldogs have been linked to Mitchell for months and there was a further development on Wednesday, with the player telling a Canterbury board member that he wants to play fullback.
Roosters sources have told the Herald the club's powerbrokers felt they had been disrespected by Mitchell, who is off contract at the end of next season, when he decided to test his market value with other clubs and left their offer hanging.
The Roosters are also concerned about the number of people in Mitchell's ear.
Club officials believe there are as many as three player agents - Wayde Rushton, Mario Tartak and Matt Rose - offering the 22-year-old advice, as well as Mundine.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson subsequently met with Mitchell on Tuesday to tell him the offer was no longer on the table.
Roosters officials would not say whether they will head back to the negotiation table if Mitchell remained at the club in 2020 but they are quietly confident he will struggle to net offers which will blow their rescinded deal out of the water.
The public breakdown between the glamour club and one of their biggest stars comes as Mundine - who insists he is not a direct advisor of Mitchell's - told the Herald the star centre needs to look after himself and his family by "getting as much money as he can".
"He has to do what's best for him and his family, man," Mundine said.
"He has a kid and another one on the way. He has to do what's best for them and that's to get as much money as he can."
Mundine, who has known Mitchell's father Matt since he crashed on Mundine's cousin's couch during his playing days in Sydney, also questioned the Roosters' loyalty to the NSW State Origin and Kangaroos player.
"They talk about loyalty but they ain't loyal," Mundine said. "If they were, they wouldn't be saying 'we don't want you'.
"You have to look after number one. He should do whatever he wants to do."
If Mitchell is to take Mundine's advice, the Tigers have emerged as the club who may be able to offer the 22-year-old the most immediate cash.
The Tigers were on Wednesday yet to meet with Mitchell or a representative for the centre but according to a club source they are open to the prospect given they now have more than $1.5 million in cap space with Ryan Matterson and Ben Matulino off their books.
The joint venture would be able to afford Mitchell immediately, unlike almost every other Sydney-based suitor, and that could also work in their favour as the Roosters are now prepared to release Mitchell from the final year of his current contract should he find a new football home.
The Tigers are expected to enter the race for his signature soon but who else can actually afford to pay Mitchell his seven-figure asking price remains to be seen.
Mitchell's desire to play fullback could be a complication for the Bulldogs as they have both Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Nick Meaney on their books already. The club does not have the cap space to accommodate the Taree product in 2020 and neither club chief executive Andrew Hill nor coach Dean Pay have sat down with Mitchell or his management.
Elsewhere, a Souths source told the Herald they are not going to enter the race for Mitchell.
Penrith chief Brian Fletcher said on Wednesday his club had "no interest" in pursuing him.
Newcastle do not have any wiggle room in their cap for 2020 and little more in 2021, though new coach Adam O'Brien did issue a "never say never" response to questions about Mitchell on Wednesday.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/mundine-advises-mitchell-to-get-as-much-money-as-he-can-as-tigers-bulldogs-circle-20191106-p5381i.html
