‘He’s very lucky’: Latrell facing ban for elbow but stars say it could have been worse

South Sydney’s season has gone from bad to worse with Latrell Mitchell facing a minimum three weeks on the sidelines for an incident involving Warriors superstar Shaun Johnson.

Mitchell, who was put on report for appearing to extend his elbow into head of Johnson as the Warriors halfback tried to make a tackle, risks missing matches against the Sharks, Storm and Panthers after being hit with a dangerous contact charge.

The Rabbitohs’ early season dramas continued when they were comfortably beaten by the Warriors 34-4 at Accor Stadium on Saturday, slipping to last spot on the ladder after five rounds.

Maroons coach and one of rugby league’s greatest fullbacks, Billy Slater, believes the suspension could be a blessing in disguise for the Rabbitohs, allowing them to hit the “reset” button on their season.

“I rewound it and watched it again because I thought the referee missed it,” Slater said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. ”I think he’s very lucky that he’s only got three weeks on the sideline, and he’s very lucky that Shaun Johnson didn’t break his jaw because he would be missing half the season if he did.

“This is pure frustration out of the way he’s playing, out of the way his team is playing. I think it’s a great opportunity for both Latrell and the South Sydney Rabbitohs to reset their season.

“Latrell needs to go away, and you’d like to think he’s going to go away and work on the areas of his game that he sees as important. For the Rabbitohs, I think it’s a great opportunity to throw the cat among the pigeons and change some sports. Get Jack Wighton a little bit closer and throw him at six. Cody Walker, move him to the other side of the field and put the No.7 on his back.”

Mitchell’s suspension will mean young gun Jye Gray will make his debut for South Sydney against Cronulla next weekend. The Rabbitohs will also welcome back young gun Tyrone Munro on the wing.

Immortal Andrew Johns believes the forced reshuffle could become permanent.

“If he connects properly, he breaks his jaw,” Johns said of Mitchell’s forearm on Johnson.

Mitchell escape charges for this tackle on Tohu Harris.Credit: Getty

“In years gone by, even back in the dark old days when it was pure thuggery out there, that’s a send-off. He’s lucky to get away with it. Jye Gray, the young fullback who has been carving up, he’ll go into fullback.

“Then the discussion has to be does Latrell go back to centre when he comes back from his suspension. The way he’s playing at the moment, I think he should. A lot depends on Jye Gray and how he goes. The way he’s been carving ... He’s quick and only built close to the ground, but he’s tough too.”

Speaking after the game, Souths coach Jason Demetriou labelled the elbow “stupid”, along with a separate incident in which Mitchell was cautioned, but not charged, for a dangerous throw in the 31st minute on Tohu Harris.

The Sharks will make a call on Dale Finucane’s return from a facial fracture against the Rabbitohs later in the week, while prop Braden Hamlin-Uele is considered an outside chance of returning from a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Canterbury will welcome Josh Addo-Carr back from concussion against Melbourne on Friday but will be without Max King after scans confirmed he has a broken hand, joining Kurt Mann (hand fracture), Blake Taaffe (HIA), Connor Tracey (calf) and Harrison Edwards (neck) as casualties from Friday’s dramatic win over the Roosters.

Captain Stephen Crichton is a leading option to replace Taaffe at fullback after he was knocked out in a tackle that resulted in Dom Young being sent off, with Taaffe reporting no ill effects from the head knock over the weekend.

Category 1 concussions for Sam Walker and James Tedesco (Roosters), John Bateman and Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers), Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) and Liam Henry (Panthers) will rule them out of round 6.

Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth will miss a month with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder that does not require surgery, while teammate Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) is also unlikely to play in Friday’s local derby against the Broncos.

Brisbane will be without Deine Mariner after scans revealed transverse fracture in his back, requiring at least three weeks recovery, and Adam Reynolds due to a hamstring strain.