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The Rabbitohs are upset with Brandon Smith’s actions in mocking Latrell Mitchell in his return from suspension after the Storm star was seen mimicking the fullback after Thursday night’s extra-time thriller at AAMI Park.
Smith was seen holding his hand to his ear in what appeared to be a deliberate take-off of Mitchell’s response to the crowd when he kicked a long-range field goal to send the match into extra time.
Mitchell, who was booed by the Storm fans when he first touched the ball at the start of the match, was being interviewed by Channel Nine after the game when Smith seemed to be taking the mickey out of him while chatting with teammates Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen.
Smith was not playing in the match after suffering a hand injury in the Round 1 win over the Wests Tigers but was congratulating his team on the field following the 15-14 victory.
As first reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Rabbitohs camp was less than amused with Smith’s antics and the Kiwi international – who has signed with South Sydney’s enemies, the Roosters next season – can expect a frosty reception from the red and green faithful when Melbourne travel to Accor Stadium in Round 19.
After narrowly avoiding the chop at the end of last season following a club review, Michael Maguire’s future at the Wests Tigers is again under the microscope following his team’s dreadful start to the season.
The Tigers went down to a Storm side which was missing several players through suspension and suffered further injuries during the Round 1 encounter.
They then put in the worst display of any team in the first fortnight when they were thrashed 26-4 by the Knights in Newcastle on Sunday to sit alongside Manly, Souths and the Warriors as the only winless clubs after Round 2.
Club legend Benji Marshall said they were not playing to first-grade standard on Fox League and Matty Johns added that the team’s poor form would only lead to enhanced scrutiny on Maguire’s future at the club despite being under contract until the end of next season.
“Madge wouldn’t want to have many days like he had today, would he,” Johns said on Fox League on Sunday night.
“It’s unfair because he’s not the one going out there but unfortunately in the modern world of coaching, that’s what happens – iIf you don’t get results the first bloke who goes is the coach.
“So I think he’s going to want to turn this around very, very quickly.”
The Tigers are back home at Campbelltown on Friday to host the Warriors, then have three straight road games against the Gold Coast, Sharks and Eels on Easter Monday.
Penrith have opened negotiations with Ivan and Nathan Cleary to ensure the father and son duo remain at the club well after the end of their current contracts.
Ivan is contracted until the end of next year but the Panthers are already in talks to extend his deal by a few more years while Nathan is not a free agent until the following year but the club is keen to lock him into a fresh multimillion-dollar deal.
Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher told the SMH it was a no-brainer decision.
“Why wouldn’t we want them both at the club long term?” Fletcher said. “The board is unanimous in keeping them as a pair as long as we possibly can.”
Panthers lock Isaah Yeo and Knights five-eighth Jake Clifford have been rewarded for their white-hot starts to the year by being the only two players who have received three votes in each of the first two rounds.
Yeo and Clifford sit atop the Dally M leaderboard on six, with Eels halfback Mitchell Moses next best on five and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen one vote further back.
Round 2 votes
Storm v Rabbitohs: 3 – Harry Grant, 2 – Ryan Papenhuyzen, 1 – Cameron Munster. Judge: Wendell Sailor.
Dragons v Panthers: 3 – Isaah Yeo, 2 – Viliame Kikau, 1 – Ben Hunt. Judge: Nathan Hindmarsh.
Roosters v Sea Eagles: 3 – Sam Walker, 2 – Luke Keary, 1 – Sio Siua Taukeiaho. Judge: Greg Inglis.
Titans v Warriors: 3 – Beau Fermor, 2 – Addin Fonua-Blake, 1 – AJ Brimson. Judge: Ryan Girdler.
Sharks v Eels: 3 – Nicho Hynes, 2 – Mitchell Moses, 1 – Isaiah Papali’i. Judge: Steve Roach.
Cowboys v Raiders: 3 – Jason Taumalolo, 2 – Chad Townsend, 1 – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Judge: Paul Whatuira.
Knights v Tigers: 3 – Jake Clifford, 2 – Tyson Frizell, 1 – Dane Gagai. Judge: Tim Mannah.
Broncos v Bulldogs: 3 – Herbie Farnworth, 2 – Matt Burton, 1 – Jeremy Marshall-King. Judge: Chris Heighington.
| Player | Votes |
|---|---|
| Isaah Yeo (Panthers) | 6 |
| Jake Clifford (Knights) | 6 |
| Mitchell Moses (Eels) | 5 |
| Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm) | 4 |
| Nicho Hynes (Sharks) | 3 |
| Luke Thompson (Bulldogs) | 3 |
| Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) | 3 |
| Payne Haas (Broncos) | 3 |
| Harry Grant (Storm) | 3 |
| Ben Hunt (Dragons) | 3 |
| Beau Fermor (Titans) | 3 |
| Herbie Farnworth (Broncos) | 3 |
| Sam Walker (Roosters) | 3 |
| Josh Curran (Warriors) | 3 |
| Jahrome Hughes (Storm) | 3 |
| Jack Wighton (Raiders) | 3 |
| Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs) | 2 |
| Matt Burton (Bulldogs) | 2 |
| Viliame Kikau (Panthers) | 2 |
| Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs) | 2 |
| Reed Mahoney (Eels) | 2 |
| Chad Townsend (Cowboys) | 2 |
| Sean O’Sullivan (Panthers) | 2 |
| Joseph Tapine (Raiders) | 2 |
| Tyson Frizell (Knights) | 2 |
| Kalyn Ponga (Knights) | 2 |
| Luke Keary (Roosters) | 2 |
| Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors) | 2 |
| Patrick Carrigan (Broncos) | 1 |
| Dane Gagai (Knights) | 1 |
| Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Roosters) | 1 |
| James Fisher-Harris (Panthers) | 1 |
| Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys) | 1 |
| David Klemmer (Knights) | 1 |
| Isaiah Papali’i (Eels) | 1 |
| AJ Brimson (Titans) | 1 |
| Mikaele Ravalawa (Dragons) | 1 |
| Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers) | 1 |
| Cameron Munster (Storm) | 1 |
| Ava Seumanufagai (Bulldogs) | 1 |
| Jeremy Marshall-King (Bulldogs) | 1 |
| Toby Sexton (Titans) | 1 |
| Blayke Brailey (Sharks) | 1 |
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