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Latrell Mitchell pleads not guilty to crusher tackle

10th September, 2018
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10th September, 2018
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The Sydney Roosters have elected to fight a charge handed to Latrell Mitchell for a crusher tackle in the hope of having him available for their preliminary final.

While the tackle on Dugan during the second half of the Roosters qualifying final win over the Cronulla Sharks went unreported, the match review committee yesterday slapped Mitchell with a Grade 1 charge for dangerous contact on the head and neck of his opposite number.

With 70 carry-over points already on his record from a prior offence, Mitchell would will need to fight the charge and be cleared by the NRL judiciary to take part in the Roosters preliminary final after they have a week off.

Pleading guilty would have meant he will be only back for the grand final as will losing the contest at the judiciary, should the Roosters make it when they take on the winner of the semi-final set to be played between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday night.

Should Mitchell lose the charge, he won’t miss any more than the one game, so it will be worth challenging at the judiciary, even if the footage is damning against the centre.

Just a matter of weeks ago, Will Chambers was suspended for three weeks from a similar tackle, where he put his opponent onto the back and then dropped to his knees.

Given the similarity between the two tackles, Mitchell may be lucky to beat the charge.

The loss of the in-form centre would be a crushing blow for the tri-colours. He has been in excellent form and carrying out goalkicking duties for them throughout the season.

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The hearing will be on Tuesday night.

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