NRL Magic Round Early Mail: Josh Schuster in frame for South Sydney debut after Latrell Mitchell charge
A playmaking crisis at South Sydney could force Wayne Bennett into another spine change with Josh Schuster to be assessed by the super coach ahead of Magic Round.
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A playmaking crisis at South Sydney could force Wayne Bennett into another spine change with the prospects of Lewis Dodd, Jamie Humphreys and Josh Schuster to be assessed by the super coach.
The Rabbitohs’ spine dilemma has emerged in the wake of star fullback Latrell Mitchell being charged by the NRL match review committee for a high shot on Storm fullback Sua Fa’alogo on Friday night.
Mitchell has been charged with grade two dangerous contact and will miss South Sydney’s Magic Round clash with Newcastle next Saturday at Suncorp Stadium with an early guilty-plea.
Mitchell will miss two matches if he opts to fight the charge and is unsuccessful at the judiciary.
The Rabbitohs have veteran five-eighth Cody Walker (calf) also unavailable for the next three to five weeks.
It leaves the club with Jye Gray, Jayden Sullivan, Dodd and Schuster as fit and available spine options.
Humphreys is on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury and although he is showing promise at training and in his recovery, there is a sense from club officials that the rookie half will be given additional time before he’s cleared to return.
Schuster, who hasn’t played in the NRL since round 18, 2023 with Manly, has played just two games in the NSW Cup for the Rabbitohs this season with both appearances from the interchange bench.
However, he was chosen to play five-eighth for Souths in their NSW Cup clash with the Eels at Redfern Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The loss of Mitchell is another blow for the Rabbitohs with their high-profile recruit just four games back from a hamstring injury.
With Walker sidelined, Gray was chosen to play five-eighth against the Storm with Mitchell playing fullback.
Mitchell’s unavailability could see Gray resume the no.1 jumper against the Knights.
MAGIC ROUND JUDICIARY CARNAGE
Penrith’s miserable start to the season is set to get even worse with Scott Sorensen facing two weeks on the sidelines.
The veteran forward has been whacked with a grade two shoulder charge from the NRL’s match review committee out of Saturday’s controversial loss to Manly.
With an early guilty plea he miss the next fortnight, including the premiers’ Magic Round clash with in-form Brisbane and a trip to Townsville to face the Cowboys in round 10, but risks three weeks if he loses a challenge at the judiciary.
Isaiah Papali’i could come into consideration for the starting second row position as the Panthers face a desperate climb from the bottom of the ladder over the coming weeks.
It comes amid a game-wide crack down on high contact, with Sunday morning’s charge sheet adding to a total of 15 charges handed out from six games across the weekend.
In a welcome boost, fullback Dylan Edwards has avoided suspension for a trip on Tommy Talau in the 26-10 loss to the Sea Eagles, while Casey McLean has also copped a fine for a grade one careless high tackle.
Titans forward Jaimin Jolliffe is also set to miss the next fortnight after being hit with a grade two careless high tackle charge on John Bateman in Saturday’s loss to the Cowboys.
Jolliffe was sent to the bin for the hit just before halftime, and now faces missing a Magic Round clash with the Bulldogs followed by a Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium in round 10.
Brock Gray has avoided a suspension for a careless high tackle and will cop a $3000 fine, while Cowboys forward Griffin Neame has also escaped with a fine.
BULLDOGS FACE 13 WEEKS COMBINED
Bulldogs back-rower Sitili Tupouniua could be banned for up to seven games after being charged twice by the NRL judiciary including once for a knee to the head of Brendan Piakura which went unpunished by officials during Thursday night’s loss to the Brisbane Broncos.
Tupouniua was one of three Bulldogs charged with Josh Curran and Matt Burton also facing bans compounding an ugly night for the previously unbeaten outfit.
They could face a combined 13 weeks on the sideline with Tupouniua, who was sin-binned in the first half at Suncorp Stadium, facing a four-match ban for a shoulder charge and three weeks for the kneeing incident, two with an early pleas, both involving Brendan Piakura.
Originally published as NRL Magic Round Early Mail: Josh Schuster in frame for South Sydney debut after Latrell Mitchell charge
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