Gray and finished with 15 runs for 172 metres despite spending 15 minutes off the field while undergoing a head injury assessment.
Melbourne legend Cameron Smith took a cheeky dig at Storm coach Craig Bellamy amid links to South Sydney.
The praised Mitchell for helping him prepare and also quell his nerves before kick-off – but Mitchell could now find himself returning from suspension in round 10 in the centres or possibly even five-eighth.
Demetriou would not speculate on where Mitchell could play but was prepared to give Gray every chance to make the No.1 jersey his own.
“It’s Jye’s spot at the moment,and if he keeps playing well,he’s every chance to keep it,” Demetriou told this masthead.
“You never know in rugby league. Who is available in another two weeks’ time might be different to who is available now.
Jye Gray on debut for South Sydney.Getty
“I just want him to focus on each week. He’ll get a good prep going down to Melbourne,which will help.
“He’s obviously got speed,and he’s a real threat who can make a lot of metres for a little bloke. He would have finished with over 200m the other night had he stayed on the field.
“There’s more to come from him,and once he gets settled in,and we get more quality ball to him,he’ll be even better again.
“We said before the game he had earned the right to be here,and he should go out and enjoy it. One game was not going to define him. It’s just the start.”
Mitchell,who is serving a three-match ban for elbowing New Zealand Warriors’ playmaker Shaun Johnson in the head,was happy to mentor Gray leading into the match.
“That’s the side of Latrell we love,he knows where he can have an impact and how powerful his voice is,and a guy like Jye idolises him,” Demetriou said.
Mitchell won two premierships playing centre,and represented both NSW and Australia. Commentators and coaches,including Wayne Bennett,have backed Mitchell to make a successful transition to five-eighth and play alongside Cody Walker in the halves.
Latrell Mitchell watched Saturday night from the stands because of suspension.NRL Photos
Gray’s debut included plenty of physicality from Cronulla. Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo rushed up and flattened Gray on a couple of occasions – one of those tackles forcing Gray to undergo a HIA.
Gray grew up playing as a five-eighth but is just as happy at fullback.
“‘JD’ has been so good to me,I’ve been here 18 months,he’s taught me heaps,he can put his trust in me,and I’ll return the favour,” Gray said.
“I’ve got Trell in front of me[at No.1],Cody in front of me at No.6,that’s very difficult competition,but wherever the coaches need me I’ll play.
“Trell helped me with my nerves pre-game. He came up to me and said,‘back yourself’. During the week he also helped guide me around. I only moved to fullback earlier this year,and he was telling me where I needed to be positioned.”
Souths play the Storm and Penrith after their bye. Penrith’s No.1,Dylan Edwards,made a point of watching Gray’s first game.
“I thought he was really impressive,he was fast,elusive and strong,and organised them really well in defence – he put himself in a position to make some good[defensive] plays,” Edwards said.
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