Scans confirm extent of Latrell Mitchell’s hamstring injury

The South Sydney Rabbitohs will need to get their season back on track without superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell, who has torn his hamstring.

Mitchell has torn his hamstring.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ hopes of turning their slow start to the season around have suffered a massive blow with news Latrell Mitchell will miss approximately eight weeks through injury.

Mitchell injured his hamstring midway through the first half of Saturday’s win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons and was unable to finish the game.

Mitchell went in for scans over the weekend, which confirmed he had torn his hamstring.

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On Monday, Rabbitohs physiotherapist Eddie Farah revealed Mitchell’s tear had occurred in a tendon rather than in the hamstring muscle.

“What that means is that recovery is going to be a lot slower,” said Farah.

“At this stage, we’re expecting Latrell to be out for approximately eight weeks.”

If Mitchell misses eight weeks exactly, he will return for the Rabbitohs’ round 14 clash with the Gold Coast Titans.

Mitchell took to social media on Monday afternoon to say he was “disappointed” to be missing so many games.

“Obviously disappointed with this result but there’s definitely a brighter side,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Get everything sorted and 100 per cent for back end of the season. Stick solid Rabbitohs fans, I’ll be back.”

Mitchell left the field injured on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The injury has also cast major doubt over Mitchell’s ability to line up in the first game of the State of Origin series on June 8.

Mitchell was highly unlikely to usurp James Tedesco as fullback, but would’ve been a lock for selection at centre, especially given his dominant performance in last year’s series.

For the Rabbitohs, Mitchell’s injury is a significant blow in a season that isn’t going at all to plan.

Last year’s runners-up farewelled coach Wayne Bennett and captain Adam Reynolds at the end of 2021 and have recorded only two wins from their first five starts.

With Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker still working on their chemistry in the halves, the Rabbitohs would’ve been relying on Mitchell to help spark their attack and turn their slow start to the season around.

Blake Taaffe looks set to fill in for Mitchell. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Instead, 22 year-old Blake Taaffe looks set to fill the fullback jersey for the next two months.

Taaffe deputised for Mitchell when he was suspended during last year’s finals series.

The Rabbitohs will hope to break into the top eight by defeating the battling Bulldogs on Friday afternoon.