NRL 2022: Rabbitohs kick Roosters out of finals, Latrell Mitchell’s empatic takedown of haters

Roosters fans berated him from the stands, as Roosters players targeted him on the field. But at full time, Latrell Mitchell delivered an emphatic takedown of his haters.

Cody Walker (left) and Latrell Mitchell (top) both had big games. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

In a dramatic and spiteful match not seen in rugby league’s modern era, Latrell Mitchell emerged with a knockout victory over the Sydney Roosters.

Roosters fans berated him from the stands, as Roosters players targeted him on the field. But in the end, Mitchell delivered an emphatic takedown of the haters, stating at full-time: “I’ve been bashed down 10 times and I’ve got up 11.”

In a boots-and-all war where a record seven players were dismissed to the sin bin, Mitchell proved that he had the coolest of heads when it mattered as South Sydney recorded a 30-14 win to stay alive in the NRL premiership and eliminate their 114-year Bondi rivals.

Latrell Mitchell scuffles with Connor Watson. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

While Mitchell was involved in just about every scuffle — and there were plenty — he and Cody Walker were also present for the Rabbitohs’ big plays as they turned around last week’s 26-16 loss to their bitter rivals to book a date with Cronulla back at Allianz Stadium — their third consecutive week at the NRL’s newest venue.

There were a record seven sin bins, high shots, niggle, players on report, five sent for HIAs — of which three failed. Players taunted, swinging arms, jabs, elbows, flare-ups, facials, head slams and hatred – this was rugby league tribalism at its absolute best.

And right in the middle of combat was Mitchell.

During the week he hit out at the constant booing from Roosters fans. On Sunday, he fed off it.

The more the crowd jeered him, the more he wanted to win. With each successful conversion, Mitchell sent a body language message to the Roosters faithful. He put his index finger to his lips, quieting the crowd. He poked his tongue out, nodded knowingly … this was his stage.

Latrell Mitchell reacts after kicking a sideline conversion. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

At one point, when another sideline conversion was successful, Mitchell turned to Roosters fans on the eastern side of Allianz Stadium and threw his hands out wide like a messiah. He hugged the Souths’ ball girl after another kick for goal late in the game.

When footage of Mitchell being interviewed on the field after the game flashed up on the giant Allianz screen, the crowd went into absolute raptures.

One of the biggest cheers all night was when Latrell came on screen post match, despite being booed relentlessly all game. #NRLRoostersSouthspic.twitter.com/Sbxg2zBJiu

— Roast (@thenrlroast) September 11, 2022

“It’s an emotional one … it’s been a few years with situations that went on but I’ve worked really hard to get myself to this moment and I’m really grateful for what happened and what’s about to happen and thankful for the crowd staying back and doing what they’re doing,” Mitchell said.

“The hurdles that I’ve had to jump, the resilience that I’ve had to go through. I’ve been bashed down 10 times and I’ve got up 11. It’s all worth it when you’ve got support. I know it’s there and it outweighs the bad. I’m very grateful ...”

Cody Walker (left) and Latrell Mitchell (top) both had big games. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“The emotion of that game was through the roof. Last week it started for the first 20 and this was the whole 80. Two proud clubs and you’re going to get those moments and it’s about how you control it and luckily enough there were no serious injuries.”

Despite the bad blood, Mitchell acknowledged the Roosters’ contribution in helping him dominate on the big stage.

“I spent most of my career there and I can’t thank the Roosters enough for giving me an opportunity to be Latrell Mitchell,” he said.

“And now I get to express that with the best club in the world.

“It’s so good, I love the community. I’m home.”

Match report: Seven deadly sin bins as refs turn classic into farce

Countless players were hit high while others simply lost their heads as Sunday descended into the seven deadly sin bins with Victor Radley and Taane Milne both marched twice as the Rabbitohs eliminated the Roosters 30-14 in a match that will be replayed until the world runs out of power.

It was billed as the most explosive match in years but not even Nostradamus could have predicted just how combative Sunday’s elimination final between the fiercest rivals in the NRL would turn out to be.

It felt like a football match with the Rabbitohs twice reduced to 11 players as the local enemies somehow exceeded expectations with three players sent to the sin bin in an emotion-charged opening 20 minutes.

Latrell Mitchell scuffles with Nat Butcher. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“We took it to a place that it shouldn’t have gone,” Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary said. “We were poor.”

It took just four minutes for the match to erupt with Roosters firebrand Victor Radley sent to the sin bin for punching Taane Milne.

While it didn’t look like he made contact, Radley appeared to throw a little right jab while the pair were scuffling on the ground.

The Roosters-Rabbitohs blockbuster exploded.

South Sydney’s Cody Walker gave him plenty of lip and the brainsnap was punished the very next set when try-scoring machine Alex Johsnton strolled over to open the scoring.

It brought a loud cheer from the Rabbitohs faithful after all their players were booed heavily before the game, with Latrell Mitchell receiving the loudest jeer.

But the boos quickly returned as South Sydney’s tackling technique went out the window as they struggled to match the physicality of their rivals.

Englishman Tom Burgess was lucky to stay on the field when he clobbered James Tedesco high, forcing the Roosters skipper for an HIA.

But he lost his head a minute later when he hit Matt Lodge in the head, and he was soon followed by Milne who was marched for a high shot on Joseph Suaalii.

James Tedesco won’t be back today after failing his HIA. Will enter NRL’s concussion protocols. If Roosters do advance, like Mitch Moses he will require specialist clearance to play within 10 days. Hope he’s OK moving forward pic.twitter.com/a5wKIzinau

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 11, 2022

Incredibly, the Roosters scored twice while Radley was off the field to open up an 8-6 lead but they then conceded to who else but Mitchell when the Bunnies were reeling with a two man disadvantage.

Any thought that the half-time break may have eased tensions quickly went out the window when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was sent to the sin bin for a head slam on Burgess.

There was more drama to come when Tevita Tatola pushed Sam Verrills’ head into the ground which prompted Radley to run in and spark another melee which saw both men given 10 minutes to cool their jets.

And there was time for one more moment of madness when Milne hit Connor Watson high and was sent from the field for the second time.

There was a thought that players from both sides were staying down for penalties, but not according to Robinson. “I take umbrage to the fact that we lie down for penalties. I’m passionate about that,” he said.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was one of seven sin bins. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The match descended into UFC and street brawling with players hitting harder than humanly possible and with more venom than a cobra while spurred on by a Coliseum-like crowd.

There were some moments of magic in between all that, with the Rabbitohs set to face the Sharks while the Roosters can start planning for 2023.

And there could be more drama with the match review committee expected to work long into the night trying to sift through all the drama.

“Where do I start? It was chaotic,” Trent Robinson said. “It descended into a non-rugby league game. It got to the point where it was so stop-start that it was not really what we want to see in our game.”

HIA DRAMA

Last week it was Souths who copped a telling HIA blow when Cam Murray came off in the opening set.

This time it was the Roosters’ turn to feel the pain with three of their most important players knocked out of the contest inside the opening 45 minutes, with only one able to return.

The carnage started when skipper James Tedesco was ordered from the field after the Burgess high shot.

He was initially cleared by the club’s medical staff but his condition regressed after that and he was ruled out of the contest after running for 109 metres in just 17 minutes.

“That’s a critical moment but our team has to adapt,” Robinson said.

The fact Burgess was allowed to stay on the field will infuriate the Roosters given his illegal tackle forced one of the game’s best players out of the contest.

Justice was served moments later when the Englishman was marched for his shot on Matt Lodge but the call came a minute too late.

James Tedesco down with concussion. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

There was more HIA drama late in the first half when former Bunn Angus Crichton knocked himself out trying to tackle Burgess, and it got worse when Siosiua Taukeiaho was so dazed that he played the ball sidewards early in the second half.

To make matters worse, the Roosters lost winger Daniel Tupou to the same groin injury that ruled him out of the Round 25 clash which forced a makeshift backline into even more chaotic changes.

“I didn’t expect that to happen, otherwise I wouldn’t have played him,” Robinson said.

Somewhat ironically, the Roosters were unable to activate their 18th man because only two players failed their HIA, but the Rabbitohs were allowed to bring Michael Chee Kam on for Burgess as a result of the Waerea-Hargreaves head slam.

BOOS BAN

Roosters players reportedly gave up booze for the finals but their fans didn’t listen to coach Trent Robinson because they were more than happy to unleash boos every time Mitchell touched the ball.

The heckling started off louder than last week but quickly died off as the former Rooster came up with big play after big play to make up for his Round 25 fizzer.

He produced try-saving tackles on Tupou and Drew Hutchison, he scored when his side was down to 11 and he then antagonised the Roosters faithful when he nailed a sideline conversion after Johnston crossed for try number 30 of the season.

Mitchell was hit high by Waerea-Hargreaves and Taukeiaho and he inexplicably started a kicking duel in the first five minutes, but everything he did fired up Cody Walker who returned to his best with four try assists.

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Originally published as NRL 2022: Rabbitohs kick Roosters out of finals, Latrell Mitchell’s empatic takedown of haters