Most players wait until the end of their career to make the transition to TV pundits.
Yes, they might make the odd appearance here and there during their playing career, ex-Wigan Warriors star Sam Tomkins would be a prime example, but usually the complete transition doesn’t occur till after the final whistle in a player’s final game.
Even when making those odd appearances it is someone like Tomkins at the twilight of their career.
However, in a bit of a shock, one of the NRL’s biggest stars has agreed a TV deal at the age of just 25 in the midst of his prime years.
Australian Rugby League World Cup winner, New South Wales star and South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell has reportedly agreed a TV deal with Fox League to appear on the Matty Johns show as part of match day coverage despite the fact he will be playing most weeks for the Bunnies.
Of course, he would not be covering his own team’s games and would likely only cover fixtures when available, but it seems like a strange time for the relatively young man to divide his focus.
It is interesting to wonder what the Bunnies might think.
“He’s ready to work,” Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley told the Daily Telegraph.
“We’ll look at areas where he’s most comfortable.
“His interest in the business is real and we just want a relationship with him and build it over time.
“In our business you’ve got to be modern, you’ve got to be contemporary.
“It’s great to have all the stars of yesterday but you’ve got to have the stars of today as well.”
