NRL round five judiciary: South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell cops three-week ban, Jye Gray set to debut
Billy Slater believes Latrell Mitchell is lucky he is not “missing half the season” after escaping with a three-match ban for elbowing Shaun Johnson in the head.
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The NRL’s greatest ever custodian Billy Slater believes South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell was “lucky” to only cop a three week ban, as Immortal Andrew Johns urged coach Jason Demetriou to name the Rabbitohs superstar at centre on his return from suspension.
It comes as Mitchell accepted a three-match suspension after the match review committee hit the 26-year old with a grade two dangerous contact charge for an elbow to the head of New Zealand Warrior star Shaun Johnson.
“I think he’s very that he’s only got three weeks on the sideline and he’s very lucky Shaun Johnson didn’t break his jaw because he’d be missing half the season if he did,” Queensland coach Slater said on Channel 9.
“He knew it straight away. This is pure frustration out of the way he’s playing the team is playing. I think it’s a great opportunity for Latrell and South Sydney to re-set their season.
“Latrell needs to go away and work on the areas of the game of his game that he sees are important and make him play well.
“For the Rabbitohs it’s a great opportunity to throw the cat among the pigeons and change some spots.”
Mitchell’s untimely suspension opens the door for the highly-regarded Jye Gray to make his NRL debut this weekend against the Sharks.
Johns believes Gray should retain the fullback spot ahead of Mitchell, who wasn’t sin binned for the Johnson hit, when he returns from suspension in round 10 against St George Illawarra.
“If it connected properly it breaks his (Johnson’s) jaw. Even in years gone by when it was pure thuggery out there, that’s a send off. So he’s lucky to get away with it,” Johns said.
“The discussion has to be, does Latrell go back to centre when he comes back from his suspension … it will depend on Jye Gray, the way he goes but he’s been carving up. He’s quick and tough too.”
Gray, a playmaker, has been a standout for the Rabbitohs in the NSW Cup in the opening rounds of the season playing at fullback.
The 20-year old has averaged 185 metres per game, scored three tries, had two try assists, made 21 tackle busts and seven line breaks.
Another option for coach Demetriou at fullback is new recruit Jack Wighton – putting the likes of Jacob Gagai and Braidon Burns in line for a centre spot.
But Slater believes Wighton should partner Cody Walker in the halves at the expense of Dean Hawkins, who was called into the side when Lachlan Ilias was dropped after round two.
“Get Jack Wighton a little closer, maybe play him at no. 6, Cody Walker, throw him on the other side of the field and put the seven on his back,” Slater said.
“Back in 2019, when they made the grand final he was really dominant and did all the kicking. I thought he was a dominant half playing in that season, it’s certainly not natural to him but he’s got it in him. Something needs to happen.
“You have a player like Wighton sitting out in the centres, he’s playing aggressive, he’s doing his job but I think they can get more out of him.”
In some positive news for Demetriou, boom outside back Tyrone Munro will be available to be named on Tuesday after overcoming a collar bone injury. Munro is expected to be named on the wing.
Demetriou is already without Alex Johnston (hamstring) and Campbell Graham (sternum).
Winger Johnston is expected to be sidelined for at least another four weeks, while, Graham won’t return to the field until at least round 18.
Ilias will go under the knife to repair a broken leg suffered in NSW Cup over the weekend, further putting a strain on Demetriou’s backline stocks.
Mitchell was also placed on report for a lifting tackle on Tohu Harris putting the Warriors forward in a dangerous position and up-ending him just as the tackle was completed.
But the match review committee did not charge Mitchell for that indiscretion in the 31st minute.
Mitchell’s brain snaps drew the ire of coach Demetriou after the disappointing clash.
“They’re both just stupid things. He’s got to be better, simple as that,” Demetriou said.
In the past, South Sydney has granted Mitchell permission to return home and spend time on his farm in Taree. But the club has put a line through that this time around, and he’ll be expected to report to training for the entire during of the suspension.
South Sydney slumped to the bottom of the ladder after their 34-4 loss to the Warriors and now have to face top eight sides Cronulla, Melbourne and Penrith without Mitchell.
MATCH REPORT: RABBITOHS V WARRIORS
Souths coach Jason Demetriou has called out Latrell Mitchell for a couple of “stupid things” after the superstar fullback was placed on report for two brain snaps in the first half as the Rabbitohs’ horror start to the season got worse with a heavy loss at home.
The ugly 34-4 defeat to the Warriors leaves them with just one win from their opening five matches, and things could get even worse next week if the match review committee comes down hard on Mitchell who was lucky to stay on the field.
“They’re both stupid things. You’ve got to be better, simple as that,” Demetriou said.
“I’ll have those conversations (with him) during the week. It’s not something for me to talk about right now. As a group, we’ll be honest as we are every week and have a look at things we need to be better at.”
Mitchell has always played on the edge and was controversially fined last week for a try-saving tackle on Josh Addo-Carr, but he crossed the line on Saturday with two acts of foul play.
The fullback first earned the ire of referee Liam Kennedy in the 19th minute when he recklessly lashed out with his right elbow and hit Shaun Johnson in the head as the Warriors halfback tried to tackle him close to his own line.
Mitchell escaped with a caution but should have been sent to the sin bin 13 minutes later for a dangerous throw on Tohu Harris, while there are also suspicions of a cheeky knee that caught the Warriors skipper as he went to the ground.
“He threw an elbow out at Shaun Johnson, it was blatant,” Greg Alexander said in commentary.
“To throw an elbow out like that at a defender, who is coming in at head height, he’s very lucky to be on the field.
“[As for the lifting tackle] Latrell, he knows not to put his hands between a player’s legs and lift. That’s a no-no. Don’t do that.
“Latrell gave the Warriors an easy passage out of their own end, and after that they scored two tries.
“I don’t know what goes through Latrell’s mind at times in a game.”
The Rabbitohs can’t afford to lose their attacking maestro with the Bunnies facing a gauntlet with games against the Sharks, Storm and Panthers on the horizon.
“Latrell has some good self-reflection. He normally knows what he needs to change before anyone tells him,” skipper Cam Murray said.
Passing by and having some conversations won’t hurt. We’re pretty fresh after the game now, but it’s something to think about over the weekend.”
TAKE A CHARNZE ON ME
Warriors coach Andrew Webster could have easily kept superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the No. 1 jersey, but the decision to back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad paid off deluxe with the returning custodian shining in his first game of the year.
Having missed the opening month of the season with a hamstring injury, Nicoll-Klokstad’s afternoon got off to a horror start when he didn’t lay a hand on Izaac Thompson who strolled over to give Souths an early lead.
But he quickly made amends with a terrific tackle to deny Cody Walker before he latched onto a magical Wayde Egan pass to break clear before he linked up with Johnson for their second try in three minutes.
Nicoll-Klokstad finished the first half with a game-high 129 metres, while Egan enhanced his claims for a State of Origin debut with another masterful display which included another stunning assist to set up Johnson’s second.
“Charnze is world class. He’s not a good NRL player, he’s a world-class player,” Tuivasa-Sheck said.
GOING SOUTH
The Bunnies are languishing in 16th and playing the sort of footy that will get them nowhere near the finals.
Their discipline continues to be a major issue, their attack lacks spark, they desperately miss some speed out wide and their defence looked disinterested at times as Te Maire Martin waltzed through some feeble attempts.
They were playing a Warriors side missing Luke Metcalf, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore but never looked like winning at home, with Tuivasa-Sheck celebrating game 200 with a late try.
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