Latrell Mitchell believes he's got everyone covered. Everyone but Will Chambers.
"Everyone else, I've sort of done a good job on them," Mitchell says.
"But other than that, he'd have to be the toughest I've played."
It's why the Sydney Roosters star is bracing for his biggest game in what has been the biggest year of his life in Sunday's NRL grand final against Melbourne.
Having already faced off in three ding-dong battles between the game-breaking centres in State of Origin this year, Mitchell knows exactly what to expect from the Kangaroos incumbent.
"He's going to do the same thing," he says.
And that means bracing for another verbal barrage from one of the game's best sledgers.
But his reputation mattered little to Mitchell in Origin this year, where he broke out as arguably the game's most damaging centre since Greg Inglis.
In his Origin debut, Mitchell busted 13 tackles, while Chambers missed eight.
"It's footy. You talk to each other and that's what you do to the opposition, try and get them off their game so you can do what you need to do," he says.
Another reason Mitchell enjoys the trash talk is that it keeps him on his toes. Once criticised for being in and out of a contest, the 21-year-old likes the individual battles.
"It's good for me, it keeps me honest and keeps me in the game," he says.
Asked what it would be like to face his Origin opponent a fourth time this year, Mitchell said: "Honestly, I don't mind it.
"There's some good centres out there and it's good to obviously get a battle in and play them through the year. He's one of the best centres in the game and has been for a long time.
"To come up against him in the big dance, it's going to be a good game so I'm pretty keen.
"He's just been around the game for as long as he has, and experienced what he has. That's the thing I've just got to keep in mind, that I know he's an old dog.
"He's ready to come at me and play some good footy. I'm there to to do the same."
Australian Associated Press
