Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell set to miss month with quadriceps injury

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ horror injury toll has continued, with superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell set to be sidelined for at least a month.

Latrell Mitchell may have played his last NRL game of the season after the Rabbitohs’ superstar broke down at training on Thursday morning.

Mitchell took part in the warm-up alongside his teammates when he suffered what would later be revealed as a significant quadriceps injury which will sideline him for at least the next month.

Latrell Mitchell warming up for Rabbitohs training. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Daily Telegraph.

He immediately pulled up and a trainer treated spent several minutes treating his right leg.

Teammates, including winger Tyrone Munro, could be seen showing concern for Mitchell.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Mitchell’s injury.

“He has torn a quad muscle,” Bennett said. “It was just in the warm-up. He wasn’t even running that fast. I was standing here watching it. He was probably going three-quarter pace. “He had no soreness. He just said he felt it go.”

The Rabbitohs fullback had a few days off training after State of Origin duty before rejoining the group at captain’s run at Heffron Park in Maroubra, where he suffered the injury.

Mitchell has played just 10 games this season after missing the opening month of Souths’ campaign after suffering a significant hamstring injury in the pre-season.

It continues a horror injury toll for the Rabbitohs which has seen the past three seasons derailed by their injury ward.

Mitchell broke down at training, suffering a significant quadriceps injury. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Daily Telegraph.

The Rabbitohs are missing Cody Walker (hamstring), Cameron Murray (Achilles), Davvy Moale (wrist), Campbell Graham (back), Jye Gray (broken thumb), Brandon Smith (knee), Jayden Sullivan (leg) and Mikaele Ravalawa (pectoral) for Friday night’s clash with four-time defending champions Penrith.

Alex Johnston is expected to shift to fullback with Euan Aitken likely to move to centre and Isaiah Tass onto the wing.

South Sydney are languishing in 16th place, just one win ahead of the Gold Coast. They have six more games before their Round 26 bye. After that, they play the Sydney Roosters in the final game of the season.

There may be one ray of hope for the club as Brandon Smith targets a return before the end of the season – just in time to take on his former club the Sydney Roosters.

Smith was one game into his return from knee surgery when he suffered another injury against Manly a few weeks ago. There were initial fears his season could be over but Smith insists he wants to get back on the field before the year is out.

That would allow him to play against the Roosters in round 27.

The Rabbitohs are hopeful Brandon Smith will be back in time to take on his former team, the Sydney Roosters. Picture: Getty Images

“I am a bit of bubble wrap at the moment,” Smith said. “I am hoping to (be back). I want to make sure it is 100 per cent before I go back out there. It is frustrating but losing is more frustrating – first game back and it didn’t go our way.

“I’ll be back for that one (against the Roosters).”

He concedes, however, that the New Zealand tour at the end of the season may be a bridge too far even if he does manage to return.

“I wouldn’t want to go there underprepared,” Smith said.

“So I would love to go, but I wouldn’t want to go and let anyone down. I feel like with my body at the moment …. It would be tough for me to push someone out of a Kiwi side that probably deserves it more than I do.”

Meanwhile, skipper Murray has begun to run and he may squeeze in a game before the season is out.

Cameron Murray (left) has begun to run as he recovers from an Achilles injury and could possibly play a game before the season is over. Picture: Getty Images

In the absence of Murray, Walker and Mitchell, Jack Wighton has been forced to carry the leadership load at times and Bennett bristles at question marks over his form.

“Jack has been tremendous,” Bennett said. “Jack plays his heart out for you.”

Asked about the club’s injuries, which have meant the club has fielded its first-choice spine on only a handful of occasions this year, Bennett said: “They are issues. We’re not making (excuses). That’s the reality of our job. Other guys in the club who think they are NRL players, we’ll get the chance to find out whether they are.”

Some have stood up. Tallis Duncan, for example, began the year as a middle forward and now finds himself in the centres.

“Tallis Duncan when I arrived at the club was an interchange middle forward,” Bennett said.

“He has gone to the starting edge. He has gone from starting edge to centre, which is not his position. Those two other positions are different to being a middle forward.

“But has he handled it at the club better than anyone would.”

Originally published as Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell set to miss month with quadriceps injury