‘What is going on?’: Latrell drama proves NRL has lost the plot

NRL fans and commentators are fuming after yet another baffling set of decisions seemingly exposed the game’s frustrating inconsistency.

Latrell was sin binned. Ofahengaue was not. Photo: Fox Sports

South Sydney have piled more misery on the Parramatta Eels in the week they sacked coach Brad Arthur, ending a six-game losing streak in a 42-26 win on Saturday night.

But Souths’ much needed second win of the season for the cellar-dwellers has come in more controversial scenes after yet another hip drop drama erupted.

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Having raced to a 22-0 lead, the Eels finally hit back with back-to-back tries in the 30th and 32nd minutes.

But it was the 38th minute incident that saw Latrell Mitchell sin binned that had tongue’s wagging.

With the Eels attacking the Rabbitohs line, Mitchell was the first man in on a tackle on Sean Russell and put pressure on the back of the centre’s leg.

Russell grabbed for his ankle but got to his feet to play the ball.

Two plays later after the Eels were tackled on the last, the Bunker called out Mitchell for a hip drop.

Fox League’s Warren Smith said “it wasn’t a classic hip drop” but it didn’t change the fact Mitchell was in the bin.

Watch in the video player above.

Mitchell was the bottom Souths player of the three. Photo: Fox Sports

At halftime, Mal Meninga said he thought it was a hip drop.

“He’s lost his feet and slid down the legs and landed on young Russell’s calves. It’ll be interesting to see where the penalty arrives … it could be anything, I’m not quite sure.”

Storm captain Harry Grant told Fox League the hip drop was “hard to understand”.

“At the end of the day, you’re using your weight to pull them to the ground,” he said.

“If you play it in normal time, it gives you more understanding. But it’s a hard one and one for them to deal with.”

Social media erupted over the moment however, claiming it wasn’t a hip drop tackle.

iPaper’s sport journalist John Davidson tweeted: “That looks tough on Latrell. He is the first man in the tackle, he doesn’t come in late on a player who’s already locked up. Seems like the NRL is hip-drop mad at the moment.”

Another fan said: “Hopefully Latrell doesn’t get suspended. It wasn’t worse than what Val Holmes did, and Holmes got off.”

Latrell couldn't believe it. Photo: Fox Sports

It leaves Mitchell waiting for the match review charges from Saturday night’s games after he made himself available for State of Origin selection.

Post-match, Meninga said Mitchell “didn’t slip down” and thought maybe it would be a fine. Grant agreed: “I don’t think there was too much in that”.

But the drama wasn’t over with Mitchell’s sin bin.

In what could be a replay of Friday night’s clash between the Cowboys and Tigers, which saw Valentine Holmes sin binned but escape with an $1800 fine, before David Klemmer was not sin binned but given a three-week suspension, history repeated itself.

In the 51st minute, Eels forward Joe Ofahengaue performed a hip drop on the Rabbitohs’ Sean Keppie in the middle of the field.

“There’s a hip drop and guess what’s about to happen?” Smith said on Fox League commentary, expecting Ofahengaue to follow Mitchell’s lead to the sin bin.

“What is going on in the NRL in 2024?”

An exasperated Corey Parker said: “I don’t know, I don’t know.

“At no stage in my time of being involved in football clubs and coaching et cetera have I ever seen coaches coach that way going into tackles.

“It’s not done, it’s not coached that way — I don’t understand.”

But after consulting with the Bunker, referee Chris Butler only put Ofahengaue on report, allowing him to stay on the field.

“This is what frustrates so many,” Parker said. “Have a look at the crowd, they’re up on their feet. It frustrates the living daylights out of the crowd, out of the spectators.”

Most people felt sorry for Mitchell after his first half sin bin.

When asking the referee about the call, Mitchell threw his hands in the air before carrying on with the kick for touch.

Smith said: “Latrell Mitchell, he is incensed, he can’t believe it — and frankly, neither can you and I.”

Latrell couldn't believe it … again. Photo: Fox Sports

Ofahengaue had a more traditional hip drop. Photo: Fox Sports

Fans could not believe what they were seeing.

Bloke in a Bar podcast producer Matt Buxton tweeted: “That hip drop was significantly worse than Latrell’s. At minimum it was the exact same. How the fk isn’t that in the bin? Seriously what are we doing. Zero consistency in the 1 game. No wonder fans are so frustrated.”

“I know I’m a Parra fan but how was he not Sin Binned for that hip drop but Latrell Mitchell was? Nice to see the officials are as inconsistent in the NRL as they are over here,” one fan wrote.

Another commented: “I can’t stand Latrell Mitchell, but seriously, he has every right to be hacked off. How does he get binned for a hip drop and Joe O stays on?! @NRL officiating is a mess.”

But the Rabbitohs made the most of the penalty, going up 28-16 and running away with a late shootout as both sides scored two tries apiece in the final 16 minutes.

For the Eels, it’s another brutal loss, the side’s fifth in a row.

It’s particularly brutal for the Eels after the club parted ways with head coach Arthur, who was in his 11th year in the role.

Originally published as ‘What is going on?’: Latrell drama proves NRL has lost the plot