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Latrell Mitchell has emphatically denied he laid down in South Sydney’s chaotic finals win over the Sydney Roosters, but says the NRL’s bunker has invited him to wait on one knee and ask referees for penalties.
A jovial Mitchell on Tuesday morning said he was embracing a new nickname of “Trell-Milk”, after several incidents of alleged gamesmanship in Sunday’s win.
Mitchell twice waited on one knee and looked at referee Ashley Klein after hits from Connor Watson and Nat Butcher in the second half of the controversial Allianz Stadium clash, which featured seven sin-bins and five HIAs.
Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray was involved in a similar incident following a tackle from Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, which also was not penalised.
The matters prompted premiership-winning coach, current Nine Network commentator and Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould to claim on Monday night that Mitchell had “made a farce of rugby league” in the win over the Tricolours.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The NRL also admitted they were concerned about the trend after several incidents across the weekend, and that they would look for deterrents in the off-season.
But Mitchell was adamant he never laid down, and was merely asking the referee if a penalty would be blown.
“Call me Trell-Milk now,” Mitchell quipped.
“I’ve play the game hard and tough and honestly I’ve never felt the forces that they (the Roosters) brought.
“I think they were head hunting a little bit but end of the day that is the game of rugby league.
“If the bunker doesn’t see it and the ref doesn’t see it, that’s the game. I didn’t do anything.
“I didn’t lay down. I got up on my knee, and pretty much looked at the ref and went what’s going on? But that’s it.
“That’s the game of rugby league at the moment. You can call it as it is, but we we don’t lay down for penalties.”
When put to him he was within his rights to slow down the game to allow the bunker to review tackles and overrule the on-field call of play-on, the Bunnies fullback agreed.
“Well, the bunker has taken over the game, so that’s how the game is played,” Mitchell said.
“Semi-final footy, the ref likes to put the whistle away a little bit. That’s how it should be.
“But you’ve just got to be consistent in a way where it works on both sides.”
Souths captain Cody Walker also backed the claim that it was best for players to stay down and not play the ball, conceding the issue was widespread.
“Obviously (the penalties) get missed if you play the ball,” Walker said.
But the five-eighth said it was also in players interests not to get up quick after hits to the head, to avoid being taken from the field for concussion checks.
“With the protocols if you get up stumbling, you have to go. So to try gather yourself before you play the ball is quite important,” Walker added.
The NRL has come down hard on Newcastle NRLW player Caitlin Moran, banning her for a social media post following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Moran created headlines last week over the comments which appeared to celebrate the Queen’s death, in the hours after the news broke on Friday.
The post was eventually deleted after around eight hours, but screenshots of it have been viewed by the NRL’s integrity unit.
The NRL announced on Tuesday they planned on banning Moran for one match, which equates to one-sixth of the NRLW season. The former Jillaroos back becomes the first women’s player to be banned for an off-field matter in the NRLW’s history.
The Indigenous Knights star also received a suspended fine of 25 per cent and forced to undergo education and training around the appropriate use of social media. It comes after Knights coach Ronald Griffiths came to the defence of his fullback after the Knights’ loss to the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
“The relationship between Indigenous people and the monarchy is a complicated one,” Griffiths said. “If Caitlin has done something then it will be investigated by the Integrity Unit and we’ll work our way through the process.
Caitlin Moran runs the ball during the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
“We’re talking a little bit of negativity with Caitlin, but if we look at we’re she’s come from, in 2017 she wins us the World Cup and does her knee the year after and has probably in the wilderness since then.”
However the NRL said the comments were unacceptable, no matter the circumstances.
“Rugby league is an inclusive game and has a proud and strong relationship with many communities,” the league said in a statement.
“Regardless of any personal views, all players and officials must adhere to the professional standards expected of them and on this occasion the public comments made by the player have caused damage to the game.”
Moran was not named by the Knights for their final-round clash with St George Illawarra, with Tamika Upton returning at fullback.
The 25-year-old has until next Tuesday to decide whether to accept the finding.
Officials are bracing for a logistical nightmare ahead of Sydney’s Saturday night finals double-header, with close to 1000 parking spots likely to be closed off due to recent rain and government legislation.
The AFL and NRL finals at the SCG and the adjacent Allianz Stadium loom as the biggest back-to-back events in Sydney since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with close to 90,000 fans set to descend on the Moore Park precinct.
The night marks the first time major NRL and AFL matches have been played in close proximity since 2018, with Allianz Stadium only reopening earlier this month.
But, causing great concern for fans, situations have changed significantly since then.
Some 650 spaces on the grass fields opposite the SCG and Allianz Stadium became closed off in March, under the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022.
The Lower Kippax section – closest to Allianz Stadium – is also currently shut off due to Sydney’s wet weather, ruling out another 300 spots for cars.
If it were to remain closed, it would leave only the Sydney Showground field, which takes some 900 cars, open for the double-header.
“Event parking will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis,” a Greater Sydney Parklands spokesperson said.
“The area currently reserved for parking on the grass at Moore Park has been significantly impacted by recent rain and parking for major events.
“As a result, the Lower Kippax section of Moore Park is currently closed.
“With more rain forecast for this week, further assessments will be carried out to ensure the safety of all Moore Park visitors.
“We continue to work with other government and non-government agencies to plan for large events at Moore Park to ensure they run as smoothly as possible.”
The Entertainment Quarter carpark near Fox Studios is also operating at limited capacity, with one level of the 2000-spot multi-storey currently leased out by hyper karting.
NRL fans are likely to be those to suffer, with Greater Sydney Parklands confirming they would operate on a first-in, first-serve basis.
FIrst bounce for the AFL preliminary final between Sydney and Collingwood is 4:45pm, with the NRL pushing back kick off for Cronulla and South Sydney to 8pm to allow for a gap between matches.
Officials have, however, pointed to the fact Sydney’s light rail is now operating, as opposed to when the two grounds last hosted events at the same time.
In turn, fans have been urged to use public transport .
The 48,000 at the SCG and 42,000 at Allianz Stadium will pale in comparison to when 123,000 packed into Moore Park in 1965 for a motor show, NSWRL grand final and Shute Shield rugby union match on the same day.
James Tedesco has completed an historic clean sweep of NSW’s State of Origin awards night, regaining his status as the Blues’ premier player.
On a big night for the Blues captain, Tedesco claimed the Brad Fittler Medal, the True Blue Award for embodying the state’s spirit, and the fans’ choice award.
In doing so, he became the first player to claim all three major men’s prizes, and joins Jarryd Hayne as the only three-time winners of the main award.
Fellow Sydney Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly was named the women’s player of the year, while Newcastle’s Caitlan Johnston won the Sky Blues Award.
Kelly becomes the first woman to go back-to-back as she joins Simaima Taufa as a three-time winner of the state’s highest honour.
Tedesco had previously won the award after NSW’s State of Origin successes in 2018 and 2019, and was brilliant in a losing side this year.
A clear standout for the Blues, he scored just one try across the series but bust through 16 tackles and averaged 245 metres a game.
He was also the most consistent player in the Blues’ team, as one of NSW’s best in their unsuccessful decider at Suncorp Stadium as well as the series opener in Sydney.
“It’s something you don’t want to play for, you don’t play for the individual awards,” Tedesco said. “You just want to do your best every game and that’s that’s all I pride myself on especially. As captain, I just want to give my 100 per cent effort every game and do the best I can do.
“It’s nice to be rewarded, but the ultimate reward is winning, so that that’s the focus.”
Tedesco’s award comes a day after he was ruled out of the Roosters’ season-ending defeat to South Sydney, suffering a concussion after a 18th minute hit from Tom Burgess.
The Kangaroos No.1 was one of only two men’s players to attend the ceremony, alongside Jake Trbojevic.
Penrith’s seven State of Origin players were unable to be attend, with the Panthers holding their own club awards on Monday night.
Several other players are also in the midst of finals campaigns, with this season’s awards brought forward due to the end-of-year World Cup.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo were other notable absentees, as the feud between the league and NSWRL continues.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Waqa won’t dwell on fumble stumbles
A defiant Waqa Blake claims he’s ready to be targeted by Canberra’s kickers, adamant nothing will be as difficult as trying to defuse Nathan Cleary’s bombs last week.
Blake fronted up to speak to media on Monday afternoon at Parramatta’s headquarters, just days after enduring a difficult opening to the finals against Penrith.
The 27-year-old dropped three of Cleary’s mid-field floating bombs in the qualifying-final loss, with two of the errors resulting in Penrith tries.
Canberra have already made no secret of the fact they intend to keep the pressure on him in Friday’s semi-final, with halfback Jamal Fogarty ready to pepper the Eels winger.
Regardless, Blake is not fazed. A former teammate of Cleary’s at Penrith, Blake told the NSW No.7 after Friday’s loss that he had “got him”. But well aware he will be targeted by Canberra, Blake enters Friday’s do-or-die match with the belief no other half has the expertise of the Penrith half.
“You have to expect (to be targeted) every week,” Blake said. “Every kicker in the NRL can float it, but Nathan is at the best of it. I am excited by the challenge. I know what I am capable of.”
Blake also refused to put the blame on his Eels teammates, with coach Brad Arthur laying the errors at the feet of his forwards for not putting enough kick pressure on Cleary.
“Kick pressure is important, but at the end of day it’s my job (to catch them),” Blake said.
“Nathan Cleary kicks, obviously everyone knows how good he puts them. But I made it hard for myself.”
Parramatta players have also since made a point of offering their support to Blake, while coach Arthur has told him it’s important to move on from the night.
“He’s just told me to flush it … that there’s nothing I can do now,” Blake said.
“We can’t go back and play Penrith again until later on. We can only focus on Canberra.”
But Blake won’t completely put the match to the side. He wants to spend extra time under the high ball at Eels training this week, trying to learn lessons from Friday night’s working-over.
“It’s what you do about it now (that matters),” Blake said “Do more practice, watch back what I can do better.
“But other than that it’s just owning my moments. I have learned from that now, and looking forward to this week.”
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