Robinson reckons Latrell will thrive at fullback but 'it'll take time'

One question Trent Robinson must answer this week is where he expects his former player Latrell Mitchell to play when the Roosters revive their rivalry with the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Friday.

"At fullback or left centre," he said without a hint of emotion.

But Robinson knows the temperatures and blood pressure of fans will be raging before this round-three clash – Mitchell facing his old teammates he fought alongside to record two NRL premiership wins.

"It creates the rivalry and it will create interest this week," Robinson said.

"You love playing these games, but it's important you don't become external in your focus and we want to stay on what we need to do."

And the bigger question now is whether the man Robinson coached at centre for the first four years of his NRL career, can be as good as he is in that position at fullback?

Everyone seems to be airing their opinion on Mitchell as a No.1 at present.

"I'll always believe in Latrell, I've always said that," Robinson said.

"We're two games in, it's going to take some time, so just trusting him there is important."

Premiership-winning coach Phil Gould said on Nine after the Rabbitohs' 22-18 loss to the Broncos on Friday night he doesn't believe Mitchell is a fullback.

His current coach Wayne Bennett thinks he is, but he needs time. Robinson is on that page too. 

"Latrell is a high-quality player, he's gone there to play fullback, and it will take some time," Robinson said after watching his side go down 9-8 to Manly at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.

"They just want to trust him there and give him some time to do that.

"It's not easy to change positions and pick it up in a game or two, you need some time. That's what he needs."

So since Mitchell played 55 minutes against the Sharks and then 60 minutes against the Broncos at fullback, before being switched with Alex Johnston, it's perhaps wise to prepare for that same routine against the Roosters.

"I'm like everyone else, I saw him play fullback for 60, and left centre for 20, so we'll prepare for him in both those positions," Robinson said.

"There won't be any difference in our preparation for him.

"I know we're playing Souths this week, but it won't be about anything external ... it's pretty clear we need to improve the things we want to improve," added the coach with three premierships already to his name.

"The external storylines are what we love, we need it at the moment, we need some excitement and interest away from (coronavirus) ... it's awesome we can offer that.

"Internally, we want to improve how we're playing."