NRL 2023: Latrell Mitchell elbow charge update, South Sydney address power struggle rumours

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has addressed suggestions Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell run the Rabbitohs as the club confirms the impending absence of their star fullback.

Latrell Mitchell . Picture: Getty Images

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has hit out at suggestions Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell run the Rabbitohs as the club prepares to take on their mortal enemies the Sydney Roosters without their talismanic fullback.

The Rabbitohs have entered an early guilty plea for Mitchell, who was charged with dangerous contact for his elbow on Newcastle forward Tyson Frizell at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The plea means Mitchell will miss one match, leaving the No. 1 jersey and their faith in Blake Taaffe to keep their season alive in their final round blockbuster against the Roosters.

By entering an early guilty plea, Souths have ensured that Mitchell will be able to play in the finals should the Rabbitohs make it that far. To do so, they will likely need to beat the Roosters in the final round with Taaffe in the No. 1 jersey.

Demetriou conceded Mitchell needed to better control his emotions as he also dismissed suggestions Mitchell and Walker held too much sway at the club.

Latrell Mitchell has been charged for his elbow on Newcastle forward Tyson Frizell.

“We’re not winning footy games at the moment so the rumour mill is going overdrive,” Demetriou said.

“Latrell Mitchell was out for 12 weeks so if he was running the show during that time, I don’t know what the problem was there.

“They are two very influential players in a group, but they are part of a group. The only way to answer that stuff is to win footy games.

“At the moment there is lots of talk. That is because we are not winning.”

Souths privately say they have deliberately handed more say to their leaders this season, among them Mitchell and Walker. However, the rugby league rumour mill has been overdrive in recent weeks and Souths have been at the centre of many of the claims given their sliding season.

Among the most serious was a suggestion Demetriou and Walker had a furious argument after the side’s loss to Cronulla in Perth last month. The rumour was denied by sources close to the club.

However, it has become clear that all is not well given their current run of results and the emotional reaction of some of their players, chiefly Mitchell and Walker.

The pair hold enormous sway at the Rabbitohs given their profile and pay packets. When they have been at their best this season, Souths have been flying.

Latrell Mitchell confronts Tyson Frizell. Picture: NRL Photos

Walker has been out of form since returning from origin. Picture: NRL

However, in recent weeks both have been off their game and it has prompted suggestions that some within the club are unhappy at the influence wielded by the pair.

In particular, the suggestion that the pair are held to different standards. The perception that they are treated differently wasn’t helped by Mitchell posting a video on Instagram this week of him shotgunning what looked to be a beer on stage with country singer Luke Combs.

It wouldn’t have been an issue if Souths had won on Sunday. However, they were beaten and questions were raised over Mitchell’s commitment to the cause after the game.

Asked about the inability of some of his players to control their emotions, Demetriou said: “Frustration comes from care. When you care about something and you want as much as they do, that is going to come out in frustration when things aren’t going right.

“We have to be better at handling that. We have to find ways to be better with that stuff, no doubt.”

Souths have the bye this week but there is every chance they will need to win in the final game against the Roosters to guarantee themselves a place in the top eight.

It has been a stunning fall from grace for the Rabbitohs, the club having won only two of their past six games.

“There is lost of reasons but they are not big reasons,” Demetriou said.

“They just compound themselves because you are not winning. We’re just not quite nailing that pressure area and we’re letting them off the hook.

“We can’t get caught up in all the bullshit people are talking about. We have two weeks to get it right. No pressure on us this week. We will get our game right, we will get excited about the Roosters the following week.”

Mitchell’s omission shapes as a massive setback for Souths as they attempt to overcome a late-season slump to secure a finals berth. It is also a potential blow to the NRL given Souths close the regular season against their bitter rivals and Mitchell’s former club, the Roosters.

There is no love lost between the teams or their former player, their clashes having exploded in recent years. This one could have the added motivation of seasons being on the line.

Sadly for Souths, it looks likely to take place with Mitchell on the sidelines. Like most of his teammates, Mitchell was a frustrated figure against Newcastle as Souths succumbed to their fourth loss from their past six games.

They were comprehensively outplayed and to make matters worse, Mitchell lost his personal duel with Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga was at the centre of everything for Newcastle as he finished the game with two try assists.

“It just highlights where we are at – over the top, frustration,” Demetriou said.

“It is not what we needed but it is done. We know what we can do and we have shown in patches in the last few games.

“The two games we have lost in the past four – the Sharks and Newcastle – we were in those games. We just couldn’t put some pressure on them.

“We are in a good position – we can get our game on, take some lessons from the weekend. Those guys have other things to worry about this week.”