Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights | Latrell Mitchell to be issued disciplinary clauses in Rabbitohs contract

Latrell Mitchell will meet with the Rabbitohs board later this week where he’ll be presented with contract changes that he’ll have to accept if he wants to remain at the club. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals all, plus his highlights and lowlights from the week in sport.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs looks on during the round six NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks at Accor Stadium, on April 13, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

I wonder how Latrell Mitchell felt on Saturday night, no doubt he was sitting at home watching his South Sydney Rabbitohs painfully lose to the bottom-of-the-ladder Wests Tigers.

Latrell was always going to miss the game because of his foot injury.

But that’s not the point.

The result showed the damage caused in recent years from all the games he has missed.

If he plays in close matches like on Saturday night, the Rabbitohs get the two points.

He’s so often the difference between winning and losing.

Latrell Mitchell frequent absences continue to cost his club. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

This is why the Rabbitohs are finally ready to take appropriate action against their highest paid player. No more mucking around.

Latrell and his manager will meet with the Rabbitohs board later this week.

My information is that he’ll be given a final warning.

I also understand Souths boss Blake Solly will insist on disciplinary clauses being written into his contract.

Latrell will be left with a choice to either accept these new conditions or quit.

And this is the way it should be.

This time last year he was about to be awarded the Ken Stephens Medal for going above and beyond in charity and community work. And we need to remember that.

However, when you’re a $1.2 million-a-year footballer, you need to produce week in, week out on the football field for the fans, the members and the sponsors.

Hopefully Latrell can finally understand that.

HIGHLIGHT

The Dally M Peter Frilingos headline moment-of-the-year should be an easy choice this season. Surely we will not see anything as special as Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow using his blinding speed to cut down Josh Addo-Carr is a race for the tryline in Bundaberg.

LOWLIGHT

The refereeing and bunker in the Panthers v Storm game was simply not up to scratch. It got me thinking that this year’s title could be decided by a match official, not the best team. Melbourne’s first try came from a blatant obstruction. Mitch Kenny did a high shot and stayed on the field despite sending Grant Anderson for a HIA and a category one concussion.

The refereeing in the Panthers vs. Storm clash wasn’t up to the level the fixture deserved. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

SPOTTED

No club is looking after their players more professionally than the Canterbury Bulldogs. CEO Aaron Warburton paid for a charter jet to bring his players straight home to Sydney after their victory over the Dolphins in Bundaberg. Normally they would have spent half a day and been sitting around airports for hours and having to get two flights.

SPOTTED

Poor old Trent Barrett has now won just three of his last 20 games as an NRL head coach at Parramatta and Canterbury. His win record at the Bulldogs was 14.7 per cent and at the Eels 18.1 per cent. Having said that, he’ll be a handy assistant for Kevvy Walters at the Broncos next year.

It doesn’t get any easier for Trent Barrett. Picture: NRL Photos

SPOTTED

You’ve got to feel for Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson, who had to watch Saturday night’s victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs from a hospital bed where he is undergoing treatment for a medical issue.

SHOOSH

Which NRL star at a Sydney based club has been on the booze far too often in recent months. His regular benders have become a concern for his coach and teammates.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read to discuss all the biggest issues from the weekend round.