Latrell Mitchell admission backfires on Souths as Rabbitohs teammate cops season-ending ban
One of Latrell Mitchell's teammates has joined him in playing his last game of 2024.
South Sydney will be without centre Richie Kennar - as well as Latrell Mitchell - for the rest of the season after Kennar copped a three-game ban on Sunday. To cap their week from hell, the Rabbitohs learned on Sunday that Kennar has been slapped with a three-game suspension for his high shot on Wests Tigers rookie Luke Laulilii on Saturday night.
If the veteran centre enters an early guilty plea to his grade-two careless high tackle charge, he will miss the remaining three games of the Rabbitohs' season. The 29-year-old faces the possibility of sitting out the opening round next year if he opts to challenge the charge at the judiciary and fails.
One player who will be missing in round one next year is Mitchell, with the NRL reportedly set to hand down a one-game ban to the fullback. Mitchell is set to receive a one-game suspension after a photo emerged showing him hunched over a table containing what appears to be a white powder.
There's no suggestion Mitchell has done anything wrong, but the NRL has hit with Souths star with a breach notice and given him five days to respond. The NRL said the photo of Mitchell has brought the game into disrepute, and they'll reportedly give him a one-game suspension and fine.
But Rabbitohs fans hoping Mitchell can serve the suspension this year will be sorely disappointed. Ben Hornby's admission that Mitchell won't play again this season is set to affect Wayne Bennett and South Sydney in 2025 because it means the fullback will have to serve his suspension in round one next year.
On Friday, interim Souths coach Hornby revealed Mitchell has been put on leave and won't play again this year. The fullback has been sidelined with a foot injury, but there was hope he could return at some stage in the final three weeks of the regular season.
Hornby said Mitchell has been sick, which has delayed his recovery from the foot injury. And coupled with the 'white powder' photo, the club felt it was best to put Mitchell on ice for the rest of 2024.
Latrell Mitchell set to serve suspension in 2025
But that decision is set to affect incoming coach Wayne Bennett in 2025. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mitchell will have to serve the one-game ban in the opening round next season, due to the fact he won't be available for the rest of 2024.
If Mitchell could have gotten his foot right and been available for just one more game this year, he could have taken the ban and been free to start next season on a fresh note. But because he's now on leave for the rest of the year, he'll be sidelined for the Rabbitohs' opening game in 2025.
That game will be Bennett's first back in charge of the Bunnies. The super-coach has signed a three-year deal to join Souths from 2025 after also coaching the Rabbitohs from 2019 to 2021. It's unlikely he'll be happy about not having his biggest weapon available.
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Wayne Bennett vows to help Latrell Mitchell in 2025
Also on Friday, Bennett vowed to help Mitchell get back on track after a tumultuous 2024 season. He's only played 11 games due to a combination of injuries and suspension, but Bennett isn't concerned. However the coach said all NRL players should be aware of the extra scrutiny they're under - both on and off the field.
"I'Il look forward to it. I will be there for him and I hope I can give them the help he needs," Bennett said about coaching Mitchell in 2025. "I haven't reached out to him (now). I'm not coaching there at the moment. I am not the coach there.
"I have responsibilities here (at the Dolphins). He is in good hands at South Sydney and he is a good person. I have a lot of time for Latrell. South Sydney will handle the matter. They are a great club and they will get it right with Latrell.
"'Worry' is not the word I would use. I am not giving any counselling on the TV news here today. The club is handling it. I know he would be upset with himself. We've just got to get it sorted out and move forward."
with AAP
