Latrell Mitchell set to avoid 2025 NRL suspension, Rabbitohs to insist on immediate suspension despite injury

South Sydney and are set to insist upon Latrell Mitchell’s suspension commencing immediately despite his season being over through injury, with their push supported by the Rugby League Players Association.

South Sydney are set to resist any attempt to have Latrell Mitchell serve a playing ban from the premiership at the start of next season – and they have the support of the players union.

Mitchell is expected to accept a one match suspension – along with a significant fine – from the NRL after a photo emerged last week of the Rabbitohs fullback standing over a white substance in a Dubbo hotel room.

There were reports at the weekend that Mitchell would be ordered by the NRL to serve the suspension at the start of next season given he is expected to miss the rest of this year with a foot injury – interim Souths coach Ben Hornby confirmed late last week that his season was over.

However, the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) believe that would be in violation of the NRL’s own rules, in particular section 22 (4).

That rule states: “If the chief operating officer or the chief executive officer determines to either cancel or suspend the registration of a person ….. that cancellation or suspension will take effect immediately and, thereafter, the chief operating officer or the chief executive officer shall. as soon as practicable notify the person of that fact.”

Latrell Mitchell pictured leaving his Sydney home. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mitchell has been given five business days to respond to the breach notice, which was issued to him last week after he was deemed to have brought the game into disrepute while at a women’s training clinic in Dubbo.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton is keeping a close eye on the situation and insists that any ban should be served immediately, even through Mitchell is unable to take the field.

“The NRL Rules are clear that a suspension takes effect as soon as it is determined,” Newton said.

“It is not conditional on a player being available to take the field.”

Latrell Mitchell has five days to respond to the breach notice. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The Rabbitohs and NRL declined to comment on the situation given the matter is still in dispute – Mitchell is yet to formally accept the breach notice that was issued to him.

However, the NRL has previously adjusted bans so they are not served immediately, most notably when they allowed Penrith’s Taylan May to play in the 2022 finals series and then serve a two-match ban at the start of the 2023.

In that situation, it worked in May and Penrith’s favour. In the Mitchell case, Souths and the players union would argue it is to the detriment of the player and the club.

Mitchell is already one of the game’s most polarising figures and if his suspension is served while he is injured, there would no doubt be outrage. Rival clubs and fans would no doubt argue that an immediate suspension would be a mockery given Mitchell has been sidelined for the foreseeable future and can’t take the field anyway.

The NRL isn’t at that point yet, although a final decision is close. Mitchell is expected to respond to his breach notice later this week and it would be a surprise if he didn’t accept the sanctions that are coming his way from head office.

Attention will then turn to Souths’ handling of the matter as they prepare to take action of their own against their highest-paid player.

Mitchell will front the club’s board at some point in the next week after being asked to explain his actions, the precursor to the club handing down sanctions of their own against their fullback – he is likely to be fined a significant amount of money.

Souths have the capacity to fine Mitchell as much as one-quarter of his contract this season – he is due to earn upwards of $1 million in 2024.

It means Souths could fine Mitchell as much as $250,000, although even his most ardent critics would suggest that is over the top.