Latrell Mitchell's NRL season officially over as likely punishment for photo comes to light
The Rabbitohs fullback won't play again in 2024 regardless of the sanction he receives.
Leading NRL reporter Danny Weidler has revealed Latrell Mitchell is likely to cop a fine and one-game suspension over a 'white powder' photo, but Souths coach Ben Hornby says he won't play again this season regardless. On Thursday the NRL issued Mitchell with a breach notice 'for bringing the game into disrepute' and said the South Sydney star had five days to respond.
The photo was taken during Mitchell's trip to Dubbo last weekend where he conducted coaching clinics and community work. But the photo emerged online not long after, showing him bending over a table containing what appears to be a white powder.
"The particulars of the breach notice are that Mitchell featured in imagery ... which depicted him acting in a manner which has brought the game into disrepute," the NRL said in a statement. "Mitchell has five business days to respond to the Breach Notice."
Under the players' agreement, the NRL can't indicate the likely punishment until Mitchell has responded. But according to Weidler, Mitchell is facing a one-game ban.
"The NRL say that Latrell is guilty of bringing the game into disrepute because of that image that did surface," Weidler said on Channel 9 on Thursday night. "The NRL issued a media release where they said he was receiving a breach notice but at no point did they announce a punishment.
"My understanding is Latrell Mitchell will get a one-game ban and a fine of less than $25,000. The NRL have no way of proving what took place in that photo, but is worth noting that Latrell Mitchell did not take, distribute, or put the photo on social media."
BREAKING: Latrell Mitchell breach notice. No penalty announced. I'd expect a one match ban and a fine less than the $25k than Val Holmes copped. The penalty is for the "image" and the damage it has done to the game. @NRLonNine @9NewsSyd
— Danny Weidler (@Danny_Weidler) August 15, 2024
Latrell Mitchell on leave and won't play again this NRL season
Regardless of the outcome, Hornby revealed on Friday that Mitchell won't get back on the field this year and has taken leave from the club. The Rabbitohs coach said a combination of the photo controversy and a slower than expected recovery from a foot injury were behind the decision to put him on ice for the rest of the year.
The Rabbitohs have four games remaining in the regular season and are a faint chance to make the finals if they win all four. But they'll have to do it without Mitchell after Hornby revealed his recovery from a foot injury hasn't progressed like they'd hoped.
Souths have confirmed Latrell Mitchell’s season is over.
He had initially been hoping to return in the next few weeks, but Ben Hornby indicated the decision to end his season was due to a combo of illness delaying recovery from his Lisfranc injury + the recent off-field incident— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 16, 2024
Latrell Mitchell's turbulent NRL season with Souths
According to the Daily Telegraph, Mitchell will also be required to front the South Sydney board in coming days, and could be facing a club-imposed punishment. It continues a tumultuous season for Mitchell - both on and off the field. After the opening round of the season he copped backlash for his comments on the Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam racial slur scandal, because the case hadn't been heard at the judiciary yet and Leniu hadn't been found guilty.
Mitchell was then heavily criticised for a foul-mouthed interview on Triple M radio after the second round in which he admitted he didn't care that he was repeatedly swearing. He was required to meet with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo in the aftermath to discuss the expectations on all NRL players about behaviour, but escaped sanction.
In Round 5 he copped a three-game suspension for elbowing Shaun Johnson in the face, and has only managed to play 11 club games so far this season. When he has been on the field his commitment and attention to detail has been called into question, with debate re-emerging about whether the Rabbitohs can afford to keep playing him at fullback.
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A rare bright spot was his performance in State of Origin 2 for NSW, which helped the Blues go on to win the series. He produced a barnstorming display while playing centre at the MCG, however he was ruled out of the series decider when he suffered a mid-foot injury just a few days before the team for Game 3 was picked.
He hasn't been back on the field since, and there's no guarantee he'll play again this year. If he regains full fitness but Souths aren't a realistic chance of making the finals, it's unlikely they'll risk further injury by sending Mitchell back out.
