Latrell Mitchell cops NRL ban after high shot on Melbourne Storm star

The NRL’s match review committee have dropped the hammer on Latrell Mitchell after his high shot on a Melbourne Storm star.

The NRL’s match review committee have dropped the hammer on Latrell Mitchell following his huge hit on Storm youngster Sua Fa’alogo.

Mitchell was sent to the sin bin late in the contest on Friday night as Melbourne claimed the 24-16 win over South Sydney.

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Fa’alogo was a late inclusion for the Storm but had impressed in his first game of the season, unfortunately he’ll now miss the side’s Magic Round clash after failing a HIA following the brutal shot.

After making a break through the line, he had just offloaded the ball when Mitchell came flying in and collected him high.

Fa’alogo was falling slightly as Mitchell dived forward to lay a hit on, which left the Souths fullback in an awkward position and he ultimately collected Fa’alogo’s head with his shoulder.

Watch the brutal high shot in the video player above

The match review committee ultimately deemed the hit grade two dangerous contact which means Mitchell will miss one game even with an early guilty plea.

He risks missing two matches should he fight the charge and be unsuccessful.

Latrell was sent off for this hit.

“There is trouble here. Latrell Mitchell did not miss,” Cooper Cronk said in commentary.

“That doesn’t look pretty for Latrell Mitchell who has a wretched history when it comes to the judiciary,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane added.

“He’s been found over a dozen times guilty and he might be off to the sin bin.

“And if that holds up, he’s going to miss time.

“That’s pretty ugly. That looked a hell of a lot worse than those slow motion (replays).”

Rugby league great Greg Alexander says while he thinks Mitchell will be suspended, there are “mitigating circumstances” which could play in his favour.

”Sua Fa’alogo was two feet off the ground by the time Latrell hit him and we’re watching in slow motion which makes everything looks worse,” Alexander said.

“Very hard to change. Latrell had bent his back. If Sua Fa’alogo stays at normal height, Latrell hits him in the waist.”

Off you go. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Storm skipper Cam Munster and coach Craig Bellamy came to Mitchell’s defence, with both unsure what else the Rabbitohs star could have done.

“It’s a contact sport and I know we’re trying to protect players but it’s very hard to determine how hard (the force) is,” Munster said.

“It’s slippery out there, it’s wet, there’a a lot of speed, Sua’s very quick, Latrell’s very big. I don’t know where you want Latrell to go there.

“Sua’s obviously trying to engage him before the pass and he’s slipped over. I feel like sometimes it’s hard to get out of those positions when you’re fully committed to the contact.

“There wasn’t a heap of malice by the look at it. I know where the game is trying to go by protecting players but as long as we keep it consistent around the game I don’t have a problem with it.”

Bellamy shared a similar opinion as his skipper.

“I’m probably not the one to judge but I just think in the game, there are a lot of when people get hit high, they’re dropping. I don’t know if you can control that.

“I don’t think there was too much malice in it.”

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell cops NRL ban after high shot on Melbourne Storm star