NRL 2021: Latrell Mitchell in hot water as Rabbitohs cook Roosters

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has erupted at the NRL referees after an ugly incident in his team’s defeat to South Sydney.

Latrell Mitchell was sent to the sin bin for his hit on Joseph Manu. Image: Fox Sports

The Rabbitohs’ premiership hopes have taken a massive blow with fullback Latrell Mitchell on report for a high shot on Joey Manu in what turned into another heated and spiteful contest between league’s oldest and fiercest rivals.

It was confirmed Manu had suffered a depressed fracture of the cheekbone in the incident that overshadowed the Rabbitohs’ thumping 54-12 win over the Roosters.

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In the 57th minute, Mitchell was sin-binned and put on report for a dangerous tackle that sent his former clubmate to hospital.

Given the heavy contact of the hit on Manu and his history at the judiciary this year, where he was earlier suspended for four weeks on a grade two dangerous contact charge, Mitchell is facing an extended stint on the sidelines. If Souths are to win the comp they may have to do it without him.

In a bad-tempered post-match press conference, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said the performance of the match officials was “laughable”.

“It took Joey to stand up and stick up for himself with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone and they still didn’t want to do anything about it. Henry Perenara in the bunker didn’t stop play. Ashley (Klein) asked them to play on and then the players went at it again. Then they missed it again,” Robinson fumed.

“Perenara is up in the box doesn’t do a thing about it for 30, 40, 50 seconds. It is a common theme this year about the NRL and bunker not looking after our players. The guy is off in hospital and they send him for ten in the bin, ten in the bin. It was laughable. A guy will finish the year for a late shot on the head.”

He said the referees “didn’t know what they were doing”.

“How do you send that for ten in the bin? A guy will finish the year based on a late shot to the head, and it’s ten minutes in the bin? You cannot make decisions, if that’s your decision,” Robinson said.

“Get out of there. If you can’t do it, get out of there. Or just get rid of it (the bunker) completely. Get rid of it completely. If you cannot do the job, get out of there. It’s shown that the NRL bunker cannot do their job this year. It’s been a farce, an absolute farce.”

Robinson said he loved Mitchell and that he played on the edge, but said he needed to get the rubbish out of his game after “costing one of his good mates the rest of the season”.

Wayne Bennett fired back.

“Trent has got a couple of those players himself that he coaches so I don’t know what he is looking over the fence at us for. We will handle our own situation,” Bennett said.

“No one likes to see what happened out there tonight … but I’m sure they get to write another chapter in the book of feuds between the Roosters and South Sydney. I’m sure Russell (Crowe) will enjoy that part of it.

“The judiciary is probably going to rest a few for me but it is my intention to give a few a rest (next week) if I can.”

Mitchell will come under scrutiny from the match review committee. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The win was also soured by an injury scare to star Souths half Adam Reynolds.

Reynolds slipped and dug into the Suncorp Stadium turf in the first half and appeared to hyper-extend his knee. He played on but made his way up the tunnel in the 34th minute before returning to the field to help his side secure victory.

The Roosters were always up against it, missing more than $6.3 million worth of their top 30 salary cap with 14 players unavailable due to retirement or injury.

Jaydn Su’A, Mark Nicholls, Thomas Burgess, Tevita Tatola, Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray were on fire up front in the first half and mauled the Roosters, while Mitchell at the back was scintillating as Souths fired a warning shot to the entire competition that they are more than just a razzle dazzle outfit

The Rabbitohs scored from their first left-side raid with Alex Johnston, who notched a hat-trick, crossing for his 25th try of the season.

Murray’s brilliant ball skills put Mark Nicholls under the sticks and the warrior prop had his second when Damien Cook fired out a superb pass from dummy-half.

The Roosters trailed 24-6 at halftime and did not turn it up, but Souths put the foot down to run away with it. When Mitchell returned from the bin, tempers flared to fever pitch with a melee erupting with minutes to go. Sitili Tupouniua and Dane Gagai were both sin-binned.

Rabbitohs bench forward Liam Knight was put on report for a hip-drop tackle on Roosters prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho which had Roosters coach Trent Robinson on his feet and angry on the bench.

Rabbitohs cult hero Mark Nicholls scored his first career double on Friday night. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Mitchell mayhem

Mitchell had the look in his eye of a man on a mission against his former club and delivered genius and what could be the costliest of brain snaps.

He set up and scored his first ever try against the Roosters to showcase his hunger. This was Mitchell at the peak of his powers. He made every injection count, before putting his season on the line with the hit on Manu. When he returned to the park he was still fired up and that lit a fuse that went through every player on both sides, and those on the bench.

Brave Roosters

The Roosters are still in fourth but have Manly breathing down their necks. If the Sea Eagles can beat the Bulldogs and Cowboys then Trent Robinson’s men will be playing sudden death finals. Forward leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will be back but the Roosters have not beaten a team above them on the ladder this year. Their courage has been enormous but they are now down to the bare bones of a squad that was already decimated. They can’t take a trick right now and also lost bench forward Ben Thomas to concussion.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Latrell Mitchell in hot water as Rabbitohs cook Roosters