Latrell Mitchell to play round 1 after NRL deems All Stars fixture can count towards suspension

Latrell Mitchell will be running out for the Rabbitohs earlier than expected after the NRL made a huge call on the All Stars fixture.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have already scored a massive win ahead of the 2025 season, with the NRL giving Latrell Mitchell the green light to line up in round 1.

Mitchell was slapped with a one-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute after a photo emerged of the fullback standing over a white substance in a Dubbo hotel room last year.

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But the Rabbitohs made a formal request to the NRL that the All Stars fixture be counted towards his one-match suspension, due to the star’s regular participation in the game.

And on Wednesday the NRL agreed that Mitchell’s ban could be served in the annual pre-season match.

Both Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr were handed suspensions by the NRL in 2024. Picture: NRL Photos

With appearances in 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2024, Mitchell was also the Indigenous All-Stars captain last year, and he has regularly spoken about how much pride he has pulling on the All-Stars jersey.

It means he will be able to run out for the Rabbitohs’ season opener against the Dolphins as the Bunnies look to start strong after a dismal 2024 campaign.

The NRL has also agreed to the same for new Eels recruit Josh Addo-Carr.

The winger, whose Eels contract was torn up after returning a positive result to cocaine at a roadside police drugs test in September, was handed a four-game ban from the NRL for his actions.

And since he has already served one game of his ban at the end of last season, the winger will just miss the opening two rounds of the Eels season and will make his club debut against the club that sacked him.

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell to play round 1 after NRL deems All Stars fixture can count towards suspension