NRL 2024: Latrell Mitchell was issued concerning act notice for a lifting tackle that wasn’t charged by the match review committee

Latrell Mitchell’s three week ban could have been a lot worse after revelations of a separate notice issued to the South Sydney star for another act of foul play.

Graham Annesley has revealed Latrell Mitchell was issued a concerning act notice for a lifting tackle against the Warriors that was placed on report but not charged by the match review committee. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell was issued a concerning act notice for a lifting tackle against the Warriors last weekend among as series of incidents labelled “stupid acts” by his coach but avoided a charge from the match review committee because he “didn’t follow through”.

Mitchell accepted a three-match ban on Monday for a grade two dangerous contact charge for lifting his elbow and whacking Shaun Johnson in the head, with both incidents placed on report but not resulting in a sin bin.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou described Mitchell’s brain snaps as “stupid acts”, with Souths to be without one of their best players for three games as they try to climb off the foot of the ladder.

"Why do it? Why would you do that?"

Latrell Mitchell was put on report for the second time for this tackle.

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On Monday NRL head of football Graham Annesley revealed Mitchell was issued a separate notice for the second incident involving Tohu Harris, but avoided a charge given the steps he took to ensure the Warriors’ captain landed safely.

“My feedback from the match review committee in relation to the lifting tackle is that he was lifted into a potentially dangerous position but the match review committee felt he didn’t follow through, in fact, pulled out of the tackle once he got him into that position. That was taken into consideration,” Annesley explained.

“Latrell has been issued with a concerning act notice for that type of action, that lifting action. But it didn’t warrant a charge because of the action that he took to avoid it turning into something that could’ve been much, much worse.

“You can always argue that (a sin bin was necessary for the elbow) after a player has been charged with an offence and suspended.

“But the reason that we do have a two-step process is to try and make sure that if anything isn’t treated as harshly as perhaps it might’ve been on the field, then the match review committee is there as the safety net to make sure that we take action where it’s required.

“Certainly there could’ve been harsher action but the most important aspect of all incidents of foul play is they’re ultimately caught at whichever stage of the process they get caught.”

Radley is sent to the Sin Bin for a hip-drop style tackle.

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Annesley also explained why Roosters lock Victor Radley was sent to the sin bin but not charged, with coach Trent Robinson slamming the decision as “ridiculous” to lose one of his players for 10 minutes for a hip drop that didn’t meet all the criteria.

“The Victor Radley one was a little different, and while there was action taken on the field, the match review committee deemed it to be accidental and not careless,” Annesley said.

“It was knee falling onto the ankle. They also took into consideration the involvement of Connor Watson in the tackle.

“There’s a fair bit going into that one incident which the match officials have to decide fairly quickly, and the match review committee can spend much more time poring over that.

“It didn’t have all the elements of a hip drop, but it did have a player’s body weight through his knee falling onto an ankle, but it was deemed by the match review committee to be accidental.”

Meanwhile, Annesley says the controversial call to award Manly’s Tolu Koula a try isn’t as scandalous as first thought, with the Bunker not having enough evidence to overturn the live ruling despite most people thinking it was a knock on.

“I don’t think this is the outrageously bad decision that some people have suggested,” he said.

“In fact, in some quarters, it’s had some support.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Latrell Mitchell was issued concerning act notice for a lifting tackle that wasn’t charged by the match review committee