Latrell Mitchell defended by South Sydney after fans call out glaring move during Rabbitohs game

The Rabbitohs have defended the decision of injured fullback Latrell Mitchell to go to a country rodeo instead of supporting his Souths teammates in their must-win match against Cronulla on Saturday night. As the Bunnies suffered yet another loss - this time a 20-6 defeat at the hands of the Sharks - Mitchell was several hundred kilometres away in the northern NSW town of Casino for a truck show.

Mitchell has been sidelined since picking up a Lisfranc injury in round 18 and is due back in round 24 after it was deemed he didn't require immediate surgery. However, there is every chance he is rested for the remainder of the Bunnies' campaign after last weekend's defeat put Souths mathematically out of finals contention.

And Mitchell's weekend getaway didn't go overly down well across the NRL community, with some questioning why he wasn't supporting his teammates in a do-or-die clash. J & J Rodeo posted on social media: “We’re pumped to announce that Latrell Mitchell, the Winmarra team, and fellow Rabbitohs player Ben Lovett will be at our Casino Truck Show bull ride this Saturday night. This will be a chance to meet the footy legends in person for signing opportunities also.”

Mitchell wasn't solely in Casino for his enjoyment as he was also there promoting his clothing range, Winmarra. Yet it didn't stop some fans from questioning why he was there having a mini holiday while his side was playing for their season some 800km away. But The Daily Telegraph reported Souths granted him approval to attend the event.

And Souths chief executive Blake Solly was quick to point out that he was in attendance for last weekend's away match in Canberra, where he drove three hours each way. “Latrell and Ben Lovett were in Casino doing some community work on Saturday,” Solly said.

“They weren’t expected to be at Cronulla for the game, having travelled to Canberra for our match last Sunday. Unfortunately we have a big long-term injury list at the moment, and a few of our players have had short breaks in recent weeks to freshen up from their hard and repetitive work in rehabilitation.”

Latrell Mitchell set to be sent for surgery?

Already four points adrift of the NRL's top eight and with an inferior for-and-against, the 15th-placed Rabbitohs' had slim finals hopes heading into last weekend's match. But after the loss those hopes are over, sitting six points out of the eight with just five games to go and cannot make it.

However, it gives Souths the opportunity to send Mitchell for surgery before the end of the season so they can get their lynchpin back fit and firing in 2025. Injuries, Origin and suspension have limited Mitchell to just 11 games for the Rabbitohs so far this season.

In his place, Jye Gray has been solid without setting the league alight but he is a more than solid replacement for the remainder of the season. Interim Souths coach Ben Hornby also revealed last month that Mitchell would likely be sent for surgery if it gets to the point where Souths are out of finals contention, a situation they now find themselves in.

"He doesn't feel like it is too sore at the moment, so that is keeping him a bit more upbeat than if it was completely gone," Hornby said last month. "We certainly hope (he can avoid surgery). We can't predict that, and I'm not a doctor. We'll see how the scan goes in four weeks time."

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The Bunnies had won five games in a row before the injury to Mitchell. However, the Rabbitohs have only tasted victory in two of the eight games they've played without their inspirational fullback this season - highlighting just how big an influence the two-time premiership winner has on the side.