Latrell Mitchell will be free to play in the season opener and Josh Addo-Carr will make his Parramatta debut against former club Canterbury after the superstars were allowed to serve part of their suspensions in the All Stars game.
The NRL informed the players’ clubs of its decision to allow Mitchell and Addo-Carr to have the Indigenous-Maori All Stars game count towards their respective sentences. The news is a huge boost for the Eels and Rabbitohs, who have been sweating on the availability of the two stars.
Mitchell copped a one-game ban for bringing the game into disrepute following the publication of a photo of him standing over a white substance in a Dubbo hotel room. There was controversy over whether it would be served in the final game of the 2024 regular season given there was debate over whether Mitchell was fit to play at the time.
The superstar fullback will now take his place under returning coach Wayne Bennett for his side’s season opener against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
Addo-Carr’s anticipated Parramatta debut will have an edge to it given it will be against the Bulldogs. The premiership-winning winger was hit with a four-match ban after returning a positive result to cocaine at a roadside police drugs test in September. He has already served one game, Canterbury’s finals clash against Manly, and was subsequently sacked by Canterbury. Addo-Carr has maintained he didn’t knowingly take drugs.
Former Bulldogs teammate Reed Mahoney welcomed the prospect of coming up against “The Foxx”.
“It’s always good coming up against your former club, he will want to beat us,” Mahoney said.
“It will be exciting for him, he’ll probably send me a text or call and say he will run over me. I’ll just tell him to get back on his wing. I’m excited to see him over there (Parramatta) and I hope he thrives.”
Indigenous All Stars coach Ronald Griffiths said that while he wanted the star duo to be at his disposal, he would fully support any decision that would expedite their return to the NRL.
Speaking to this masthead late last year, Addo-Carr said he held no ill will towards the Bulldogs.
Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell.Credit: Getty
“The club is in good hands with Cam, Gus and Critter [coach Cameron Ciraldo, general manager of football Phil Gould and captain Stephen Crichton], three wonderful leaders leading the club in the right direction,” Addo-Carr said at the time.
“I’m proud to say I’ve played a little part in the club, I’m proud to be a Bulldog. I wish the Bulldogs nothing but absolute success, including the fans as well.
“I’ve been there through the hard times and the good times. I wish them all the best, they are a wonderful club.”
Addo-Carr added that he wanted to inspire others who were going through their own challenges.
“It was definitely dark days,” he said.
“But for anyone going through the same thing, there is light at the end of the tunnel. They can use me as an example.
“You put yourself around the right people, get the right support and you will get through it. That’s what I’ve done, with close family and friends. If you go through dark times, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, no matter what.
“I’ve been through the highest of highs, and now the lowest of lows.
“I’m just going to rip and get stuck into it.”