Latrell Mitchell in sad absence from Souths awards night as family development comes to light
The star fullback was a noticeable absentee as the Rabbitohs celebrated their end of season presentation night.
Latrell Mitchell was a noticeable absentee as the Rabbitohs celebrated their players on Friday night at the club's presentation night. However it has since been revealed the star fullback was dealing with a family matter.
Mitchell's absence was glaring as his teammates and their partners attended the club awards night, with Jack Wighton winning the George Piggins Medal as player of the year. But according to the Daily Telegraph, Mitchell had to attend to a personal family matter and couldn't attend.
Phil Rothfield reported: "Knowing what the issue is, which the club has asked to keep private, his absence was totally understandable." But it marked a sad development because it meant Mitchell couldn't farewell some of his departing teammates, including long-time hooker Damien Cook and prop forward Tom Burgess.
Cook and Burgess were honoured by the club on Friday night, but unfortunately Mitchell wasn't in attendance to see it. Mitchell would have already said his farewells anyway, but it marked another sad development in a tumultuous season for the star fullback.
Mitchell was riding high when he starred for NSW in their Game 2 victory in State of Origin. But he suffered a foot injury not long after and didn't play again this season.
He copped a one-game ban and $20,000 fine after a photo emerged of him with what appeared to be a white powder during a trip to Dubbo for some coaching clinics. And despite South Sydney's best efforts, the NRL ruled Mitchell wasn't allowed to serve the ban this season while inured.
Mal Meninga not considering picking Latrell Mitchell for Australia
It means incoming coach Wayne Bennett will be without Mitchell in the first game in 2025, unless Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has a change of heart and picks him for the end of year Tests. But Meninga has given every indication he won't consider Mitchell for selection.
“He just hasn’t played any footy really (to be considered),” Meninga told SEN Radio last week. "In my mind, it’s important that he gets himself fit and healthy. Apparently he’s going to play in our First Nations knockouts (Koori knockout competition), but I think he needs a really good off-season. Let’s hope and pray that he has an injury-less season and plays really well.
“This year’s (finals) are important. The thing that I’m starting to understand about representative football, particularly around the back of the year, the domestic season is such a long season and we’ve got a lot of players carrying injuries that could probably threaten their season, so we’ve got a lot of those playing in the finals.
“I feel that getting through the finals with a bit of form, match fitness is really important but more so is your injury (status). I think picking fit players with match fitness is really crucial for your national program to get the best results obviously but to ensure you’ve got a team that can participate for the whole two or three games.”
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South Sydney still seeking answers on Latrell Mitchell decision
Despite the NRL appearing to close the door on the white powder and suspension saga, Souths still want some answers. "This has been an unprecedented and confusing process," South Sydney CEO Blake Solly said last week.
"The NRL hasn't yet provided a response to a number of requests for clarification on the operation of the NRL rules and CBA (collective bargaining agreement). However (NRL CEO) Andrew (Abdo) has committed to meet with the club and the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) urgently, and we look forward to that meeting taking place."
