NRL boss hits back amid ugly claims surrounding timing of Latrell Mitchell's suspension
Souths have copped backlash for trying to have the fullback serve his ban in the final round.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has responded to the backlash over Latrell Mitchell's one-game ban and insists there was no 'loophole' Souths were trying to exploit so the fullback could serve it in the final game of the season. Abdo said on Wednesday morning that the NRL was looking at a request from Souths to have Mitchell serve his one-game ban in the round 27 clash against the Roosters, but the league reportedly denied the request on Wednesday afternoon.
Souths have copped it from around the league world after releasing paperwork to prove Mitchell's fitness so that he could have missed Friday night's game against the Roosters and not the first game of next season. That's despite interim Souths coach Ben Hornby initially suggesting that Mitchell would not play again this season and the fullback having not trained until this week.
Mitchell was banned and copped a $20,000 fine from the NRL after bringing the game into disrepute following a leaked photo scandal. The Rabbitohs also slapped with him a $100,000 fine - $80,000 of which is suspended. The superstar No.1 needed to be fully cleared by Rabbitohs medical staff and available for selection to serve his ban so the club called upon three separate doctors to supply evidence that Mitchell, who hasn't played since suffering a Lisfranc foot injury in round 18, was fit to face the Roosters on Friday night.
Abdo described the situation as “unique” but denied suggestions Souths were exploiting any loopholes in the system. Speaking in Melbourne where he was presenting the Storm with the JJ Giltinan Shield as minor premiers, the NRL CEO said the league was "working with and liaising with the club" about the situation but it's almost certain Mitchell will be made to serve the suspension next season.
“We want to make sure we satisfy ourselves that he is fit before we make that decision, so we’re having a look at that at the moment," Abdo said on Wednesday morning. “It’s an unusual situation. It doesn’t happen that often. I don’t think it’s a loophole.
“All suspensions should be served when the players are fit and available to play, so he’s actually missing a match, particularly if the suspensions occurred prior to the injury occurring. We’ll look at it, work with the club, and then make our make our decision today.” The NRL's decision that Mitchell will have to serve his ban next season means he's set to miss Souths' first NRL game under Wayne Bennett in 2025.
Critics had called for Latrell Mitchell to serve ban next season
Mitchell didn't participate in the main training session with his Rabbitohs teammates on Tuesday and was instead seen riding an exercise bike. And NRL great Gorden Tallis was among those to question how he could possibly be match-fit, with veteran league reporter Paul Crawley also filthy that the NRL would allow him to serve the ban this season.
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“Normally if you’re fit enough to play you’ve got to train for a couple of weeks,” Tallis said on NRL 360. Crawley claimed if Mitchell played it would be making a mockery of the system. “He’s sitting on the bike laughing, having a great time. Where’s the lesson?" he said.
"It’s an absolute gee-up that this was allowed to happen, that the NRL allowed it, that Souths wanted to do it. They keep threatening... a $100,000 fine but $80,000 of it suspended... it’s like threatening the kids all the time ‘I’m going to take the mobile phone’ but they never do.”
The drama comes after Hornby last week backtracked on his initial suggestion that Mitchell wouldn't play again this season. "There is an outside chance he could play... if we needed him," Hornby said. "He needs to show he is in good enough condition to play a game, that is the main thing. The first thing is to get him out there running.”
Veteran hooker Damien Cook - who is playing his last game for the Rabbitohs before joining the Dragons next season - backed Mitchell's bid to have his suspension served this season. "It'd be nice to play with him one last time but he'll get that suspension out of the way (against the Roosters) and a fresh start next year," the outgoing No.9 said.
