Latrell Mitchell looks set to serve his one-match ban for the infamous white matter photo incident in this week’s Rabbitohs v Roosters clash – much to the dismay of the NRL 360 panel.
Mitchell received a one-match ban and a $20,000 fine from the NRL for the leaked image of him standing on top of a white substance. The Rabbitohs also fined him $100,000, $80,000 of which was suspended.
There have been questions over when Mitchell will serve the ban given he is currently sidelined with a leg injury.
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The NRL has said he will be served when the star back is “fit and available to return from injury” – which the Rabbitohs are looking to prove he is this week despite interim coach Ben Hornby previously ruling him out for the season in a press conference.
News Corp reported on Tuesday that the Rabbitohs have submitted paperwork to the NRL to prove the 27-year-old is fit to play this week and should thus be able to serve his suspension during Friday’s clash with the Roosters.
As part of the deposition, Mitchell saw two separate orthopedic surgeons to get the all-clear.
News Corp Journalist Dave Riccio told NRL 360 he “anticipates this happening”, although he joked: “The documentation has to come by fax because it’s taking so long to set up”
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“They will be able to use the match, they will be able to show that he would have been selected, that he is fit enough to play and therefore that he can serve his match,” he added.
Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis and veteran journalist Paul Crawley, however, believe the fact that Mitchell could be cleared to serve his ban this week is a bit of a joke given that he had previously been ruled out for the season.
“Normally, if you’re fit enough to play, you have to train for a couple of weeks,” Tallis said.
Crawley believes the looming decision “makes a mockery” of the suspension and pointed to Mitchell’s vision on an exercise bike in training this week.
“He’s sitting on his bike laughing, having a great time. where is the lesson It’s an absolute disgrace that this was allowed to happen, that the NRL allowed it, that Souths wanted to do this,” he said.
“They keep threatening … a $100,000 fine, but $80,000 was suspended … it’s like threatening kids all the time, ‘I’m going to take the cell phone,’ but they never do.”
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Tallis then added to the parental analogy.
“You go to the park and parents always think their kids are doing the right thing, it’s that perfect scenario where the Southerners root for their kid and he hasn’t learned a lesson.
“It’s going to be so small … a match … They made a joke.”
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Crawley believes Mitchell will be in for a big shock when Wayne Bennett arrives at the club ahead of next season – but highlighted the big task ahead of the head coach when it comes to the Rabbitohs’ marquee man.
“Latrell will face the music this summer when Wayne Bennett arrives,” Crawley said.
“Bennett has proven in the past that if he doesn’t think he can win with you, you won’t stay.
“While Latrell seems to have got off easy here, the challenge for Wayne this summer is to come in there and change this guy’s attitude.
“If you look at the football that South Sydney have played this year, you’ll probably take two or three players out of that team and most of them need an attitude adjustment.”
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