‘Just stupid’: Latrell Mitchell facing three-week suspension

Latrell Mitchell has been handed an extended suspension by the NRL after being placed on report twice against the Warriors.

Latrell Mitchell was placed on report twice.

Latrell Mitchell has been hit with a three-game after the Rabbitohs superstar was placed on report twice during a 34-4 loss to the Warriors on Saturday.

Twenty minutes into the game Mitchell was penalised for an elbow to the head of Shaun Johnson and then six minutes before half-time he was pinged for a lifting tackle on Tohu Harris.

Mitchell was only charged for the first incident and if he challenges the charge at the judiciary and loses he’ll miss four weeks.

Souths coach Jason Demetriou blasted the both acts as “just stupid” and emphasised his fullback has “got to be better”.

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“They’re both just stupid things. He’s got to be better, simple as that,” Demetriou said.

“It’s not something for me to talk about now. As a group we’ll be honest and look at things we need to be better at as we do every week.

“It’s balancing emotion over getting our jobs done and the desire of wanting to compete but also controlling our emotions.

“A big part why we are losing our focus is because we are carrying our divots.

“It’s not on Latrell. There are things he needs to be better at but there are a hell of a lot of other blokes who need to be better as well.”

Souths captain Cam Murray said that the incidents will be addressed by the team during the week.

“Latrell has got some good self reflection. He normally knows what he needs to change before anyone tells him,” he said.

“Passing by conversations won’t hurt. Pretty fresh after the game now but it’s something to think about during the week I think.”

Referee Liam Pickering wasted no time in placing Mitchell on report for the first indiscretion.

“Latrell, it’s been reviewed. It’s an elbow. It’s on report,” Cameron said, to which Mitchell tried to argue his case in response.

“It’s on report Latrell, that’s how it was awarded. I understand, but when the arm’s out, that’s when we’re going to get the penalty.”

Latrell Mitchell was placed on report twice.

Matt Russell said in commentary that replays showed Mitchell “tried to apologise instantly to Shaun Johnson”.

Steve Roach said Mitchell didn’t do himself any favours with his actions when it came to the Johnson incident.

“The worst thing is he threw the elbow out,” Roach said.

“You have a look at it. He didn’t just cock the elbow.”

Greg Alexander, meanwhile, believed Mitchell should have been sin-binned for the elbow to the head of Johnson.

“It’s a little bit more than just a forearm, isn’t it?” Alexander said.

“It’s almost like a swinging elbow to the head of Shaun Johnson. Latrell’s lucky. Latrell could be sitting in the bin for ten minutes.”

As for the lifting tackle on Harris, Alexander was at a loss for why it even happened in the first place, describing it as a brain-fade from Mitchell.

“That was silly,” Alexander said.

“The tackle was done, but he got up-ended.

“Was it Latrell? Why do it? Why would you do that? If you’ve just had them on the rack, you make the tackle, Cody Walker comes in, Latrell gets his arms under him, and tips him up.”

“It’s just an easy out for the Warriors with the penalties.

“I really don’t know what goes through Latrell’s mind on occasions, threw an elbow out on Shaun Johns and it was blatant.

“I said on the call he was lucky he’s still on the field, to throw and elbow out like that at a defender who’s coming in at head height, very lucky to be on the field.

“Then at the back-end of the half, when Souths had the Warriors under a little bit of pressure he was put on report again for a lifting tackle.

“I really don’t know why, Latrell… he knows not to put his hands between a player’s legs and lift, that’s a no no. Don’t do that, but Latrell just have the Warriors an easy passage.

“I don’t know what goes through Latrell mind at different stages.”

Originally published as ‘Just stupid’: Latrell Mitchell facing three-week suspension