Latrell Mitchell set to miss Magic round for Sua Faalogo high shot

Latrell Mitchell won’t be at Magic Round after copping a dangerous contact charge for a high tackle on Melbourne’s Sua Fa’alogo. See the judiciary details and have your say on the ban.

Latrell Mitchell is facing a one-match ban after being charged by the NRL match review committee.

The Rabbitohs star has been charged with a grade two dangerous contact charge for his high shot on Melbourne’s Sua Fa’alogo on Friday night.

Mitchell will miss one game with an early plea or two games if he opts to fight the charge and is found guilty by the NRL judiciary.

The Rabbitohs face the Knights at Magic Round in Brisbane next weekend.

MATCH REPORT: STORM EXTEND SOUTHS HOODOO

- Lance Jenkinson

Melbourne Storm continued its hometown dominance over South Sydney on a night when Rabbitohs star Mitchell found himself sent to the sin bin for a late hit on hugely influential Storm youngster Sua Faalogo.

Faalogo, a late inclusion for the Storm, produced a stunning performance in his first game of the season, making 13 runs for 156 metres, but he will miss his side’s Magic Round clash with Canberra Raiders next Sunday after failing a HIA following the Mitchell hit.

Mitchell cannoned into a defenceless Faalogo in the second half and paid the price with 10 minutes off and returned to a chorus of boos from the home fans.

The Storm made it a perfect 20-from-20 all-time against the Rabbitohs in Melbourne as the visitors’ incredible hoodoo continued.

A sold out crowd of over 26,000 at AAMI Park saw the Storm hold on with 12 men late after fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen was sin-binned for a professional foul to win 24-16 and improve to 5-2, while the Rabbitohs are on the slide after three straight losses.

Latrell Mitchell was sent to the sin bin. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was never easy for the Storm, who got the job done without captain Harry Grant, Will Warbrick and Jack Howarth, though the brave Rabbitohs were not without their personnel problems with star playmaker Cody Walker sustaining a calf injury at training in the lead up and joining Alex Johnston and Cameron Murray on the sidelines.

Eli dominance

Barnstorming Storm forward Eliesa Katoa took out the Anzac Medal.

Katoa ran for 107 metres, including 44 post contact metres, scored a spectacular try and produced 16 tackles.

Despite the weight of history against them, South Sydney came out full of confidence in the first half.

The Storm struck first through Papenhuyzen, who was put into a gaping hole by promising speedster Faalogo, who produced a filthy sidestep that had Rabbitohs half Jye Gray skidding on the wet surface.

But the Rabbitohs’ response to the early setback was rapid.

Centre Jack Wighton, who scored two tries, was the beneficiary of a spectacular flick pass from forward Keaon Koloamatangi.

Wighton had a second first half try in his sights, only to be denied by a last-ditch effort by Storm forward Eliesa Katoa to smack the ball out of his hands, but youngster Bayleigh Bentley-Hape had the smarts to plant the ball down and give the Rabbitohs the lead.

Storm hit back

Xavier Coates scores. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Storm levelled the score when forward Shawn Blore ran like a raging bull for the line, leaving Isaiah Tass clinging to his jersey for dear life, but he managed to offload to winger Xavier Coates for a try to make it 10-all.

Faalogo looked to have given the Storm the perfect start after the half time break, but Gray produced an incredible last-gasp tackle to drag him over the sidelines.

The Storm did not have to wait long to regain the lead.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes put in a bomb from near the halfway line and Katoa produced a remarkable catch with the flight of the ball, running 20 metres to meet it under pressure from Bentley-Hape before sprinting for the line to put Storm up six early in the second half.

Sizzling Sua

Faalogo’s speed was a constant issue for the Rabbitohs.

The 22-year-old made a scintillating line break early in the second half and Mitchell could not resist the temptation to take out the lightly framed Storm youngster.

With a man down, the Rabbitohs showed some fight, taking the challenge up to the Storm’s defensive line, but they also had to detonate a potential Storm try to Grant Anderson and it was Gray to the rescue once again.

Sua Faalogo was influential. Picture: NRL Photos

Gray wall

Gray only made seven tackles, but two of them were try savers.

Storm centre Nick Meaney, sporting a helmet to protect a facial fracture sustained earlier in the season, made a confident run to link up with Tyran Wishart, who scored to put the Storm up 14 with 13 minutes to go.

The Storm finished the game with 12 men after Papenhuyzen was sin-binned for a professional foul and Wighton capitalised with a consolation try with three minutes to go, but it was too late for the Rabbitohs.

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell set to miss Magic round for Sua Faalogo high shot