‘Above the law’: Latrell’s sin bin call exposes NRL’s double standard

There is controversy surrounding Souths star Latrell Mitchell after an incident in his side’s 28-12 Magic Round win against the Storm.

Latrell Mitchell strikes Harry Grant

There is controversy surrounding Souths star Latrell Mitchell after an incident in his side’s 28-12 Magic Round win against the Storm.

Mitchell wasn’t penalised after lashing out and twice pushing the head of the Storm’s Harry Grant after a tackle by the hooker.

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Mitchell went up to catch a Storm kick but had one foot back on the ground when Grant made contact, meaning it was a legal play by the defender.

However Mitchell, who also extended his knee into Grant when making the catch, took umbridge to the tackle and twice struck the Queensland representative with an open palm.

Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander commented on the incident during the Fox League broadcast.

“Ooh gee. That’s an ungamely knee put out from Mitchell onto Harry Grant,” Voss said.

“I think he (Mitchell) gets himself into trouble coming over the top of Grant when he was on the ground,” Alexander added.

Latrell Mitchell strikes Harry Grant

The Mitchell incident was on the back of a controversial sin bin against the Warriors earlier in the day which left the New Zealand side fuming.

Warriors forward Demetric Sifakula was punished by referee Todd Smith for a striking action towards Panthers star Nathan Cleary.

Sifakula was sent for ten and that decision was one of a number of contentious calls against the Warriors which drew the ire of a team sponsor.

In the end, Sifakula wasn’t charged by the match review committee.

Mitchell wasn’t charged either, and while this isn’t to suggest he should have been, it’s clear there is a double standard.

The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley believes referees “are petrified” of Mitchell.

“I reckon it was almost a sin bin,” Crawley wrote.

“It certainly wasn’t a classic punch but it warranted at the very least a reprimand.

“But to hear match referee Adam Gee say it was play on and not penalise Mitchell for his total over-reaction was extraordinary.

“Fans from rival teams have a right to know why it seems Mitchell is above the law.

This is where the lack of consistency makes fans so angry.”

Originally published as ‘Above the law’: Latrell’s sin bin call exposes NRL’s double standard