Latrell Mitchell admits he’s burning inside about missing South Sydney’s huge grudge match with the Sydney Roosters because of a “brain-snap” suspension.
Mitchell may have played his last game of the NRL season after the Rabbitohs opted against fighting his one-match ban for elbowing Newcastle forward Tyson Frizell.
The Rabbitohs, who have the bye in round 26, take on the Roosters in the final game of the regular season in what is shaping as a winner-takes-all clash for a spot in the top eight.
Souths will be without the superstar fullback with their finals hopes on the line next Friday after the club chose to take an early guilty plea.
Mitchell was charged with a grade-two dangerous contact charge following Sunday’s loss to the Knights and would have risked a two-week suspension if he had fought the charge and lost.
The 26-year-old says he’s shattered at not being available to square off with the Roosters, whom he helped win back-to-back premierships in 2018-19 before defecting to Souths.
The clubs already enjoy the fiercest rivalry in the league and the animosity has only grown since Mitchell was banned in 2021 for breaking Joey Manu’s cheekbone.
The hostility has never been more evident than in last year’s finals series when the Rabbitohs famously ended the Roosters’ 2022 season in an explosive showdown featuring a record seven sin bins.
“It’s what people buy tickets for, to see. I put bums on seats and that’s just the game that everyone wants to come and watch,” Mitchell told Nine News on Tuesday.
“We go back to that ‘Sin-Bin Sunday’. That was just a game that you want to be a part of and everyone wants to watch and it just burns me that I can’t be there to play that game.
“I’m disappointed. Not only because (I’m missing) the game but also in myself. I’ve worked really hard to get this stuff out of my game – them brain snaps.
“I’ve tried to mature a lot and I haven’t had an incident since ’21 – that incident with Joey Manu.
“So I’ve worked really hard to getting back to playing footy and enjoying it and getting that stuff out of it, the grubby stuff.”
Mitchell will only play again this year if the eighth-placed Rabbitohs make the finals.
His latest ban follows a frustrating pattern for the State of Origin and Test star, whose performances have come under the microscope with South Sydney’s late season implosion.
Mitchell has been sin-binned nine times across his career – the joint-most of any player in the NRL alongside Victor Radley – and his efforts in defence and attack have been heavily criticised following the loss to Newcastle.
He hadn’t helped his case after he was spotted downing beers on stage with country singer Luke Coombs in Sydney in the days leading up to the Knights defeat.
Mitchell missed nearly two months of action this season due to a calf injury and the Rabbitohs’ record since he returned to the side reads 2-2.
Jason Demetriou described Mitchell’s elbow as “silly” and the Souths coach will have to turn to Blake Taaffe to fill the void at fullback for a potential showdown for the top eight with the Roosters.
The Tricolours must beat the lowly Wests Tigers on Saturday to ensure they keep their finals dream alive and they will be growing in confidence with three straight wins in as many weeks.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well said langparker, Trell and Cody have been relied on far too much since Reynolds and the old guard has either retired or left, imo the Bunnies game plan has no plan B, if Trell or Cody go missing then the whole side goes missing, this is after when Trell and Cody were bragging after signing their contract extensions that the Bunnies will win the GF this year blah blah. I would love to hear what SamB and John Morris have to say (maybe we will from JM soon when he joins the Tigers) about all this as that will give us a much better indication of what is really going on at the Bunnies. The Bunnies were one of the favourite sides in this 2023 NRL comp until R11, then they just collapsed with Trell having 9 weeks off and the Bunnies from R12 and in 12 games up to the Knights game, have lost 8 games and won 4 and now are in danger of being 9 losses from 13 on Friday 1st of September and not making the 8. That is the biggest collapse I’ve seen in the NRL of any side as no matter how much of a diehard fan I am or anybody is, there is definitely something wrong at the Bunnies.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's a funny time to be hitting a respected opponent in the head with an elbow which was silly rather than too nasty. I wonder if part of him is relieved that he might not be playing again this season. Could be a bit like TPJ telling himself how crucial it was to hold onto the ball in SOO and then doing the opposite. Don't be shocked if Latrell dips out of the game before his time is up.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah agreed Everything reported about Latrell is way over the top He didn’t have his best game on the weekend, but he wasn’t terrible (200+ metres, 12 tackle busts) and plenty of players have played worse… but you’d think he had the worst game of all time His clip on Frizell was unnecessary and silly, but there wasn’t much to it… it’s also his first charge of the season… but you’d think he’d taken Frizell’s head off and been sent off every other week The number of comments and vitriol behind them far outweighs anything he does - on or off the field
langparker
Roar Rookie
The officials get what they deserve when they give these big personalities too much rope, can’t recall who but that incident against the broncs where 90% of respondents on this forum reckon Mitchell should have been penalised for an aggressive shove but nothing happened indicates the refs are often intimidated. Other issues like him getting his brother Shaq a contract with Souths despite him being unfit and inexperienced plus his driving the recruitment of Jack Wighton (a mate for the farm trips) also indicates he’s wielding a bit of power or at least substantial influence. You’d have to wonder if Wighton’s recruitment increases the hold that Mitchell/Walker led clique will have over Demetriou. Some staff at Souths looked wary of taking him on, and now it’s playing out in public. Anyway, they’re not going to dump him so Souths will eventually just have to make it work, maybe with a new coach down the track.
mushi
Roar Guru
Miss his talent yes. I never liked his niggly stuff or petulance though. Plus either he or Joey would be gone anyway. Even outside money we just immolated our season changing the team dynamic to keep Manu and JS happy. Imagine Mitchell this year if he was forced to play centre after watching Manu win the golden boot at fullback.
Poss
Roar Rookie
Spot on The Owl, my thoughts exactly.. :thumbup:
matth
Roar Guru
That is not necessarily a bad thing. The problems start when it leaks to the media
matth
Roar Guru
I agree. The problem is we build players up too much and then tear them down when they aren’t Wally Lewis every week. Even Wally Lewis wasn’t Wally Lewis every single week
matth
Roar Guru
The gap between his best and worst is high and that’s a risk that some clubs will take and some won’t. But there is no one better in full flight. I’d like to see him return to centre, where he doesn’t have to do as much work and can select when to produce the moments
The owl
Roar Rookie
What he did to manu & frizell wasn't "silly'. Had he been the recipient, wonder how he would have reacted?
Muzz Manyana
Roar Rookie
Sounds like Souths are in all sorts. Rumour doing the rounds that things got heated between Mitchell and Cam Murray during a video session.
Drac
Roar Rookie
Metaphorically of course!
Fraser
Roar Rookie
I'm a bit over this pile on mentality from the media and fans. Mitchell isn't the first to cop it this year (Schuster, Ponga, Tedesco come to mind). It's over the top. Latrell is a great footy player and I love watching him play. His value to a team was apparent when QLD's odds firmed significantly due to him being ruled out of Game 1 this year. He can do some silly things, but so have many great players in the past (see Munster). He can also break open a game with a strength and skill that is very rare.
The owl
Roar Rookie
Further question: how can somebody have a brain snap without a brain?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
EJ - when He’s good He’s very very good BUT when He’s bad He’s rotten
eagleJack
Roar Guru
“It’s what people buy tickets for, to see. I put bums on seats and that’s just the game that everyone wants to come and watch,” I think this is pretty spot on from Trell. We can do without the cheap shots. But the aggression is what people love to see. It can be a fine line, and sometimes he crosses it with a “brain snap”. But when Trell is on, and he’s aggressive in both and attack and defence, it’s a beautiful sight.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
On Latrell. A great player, but lazy. Pulls off some amazing stuff but then goes missing and does stupid stuff that lets his team down. He needs to pull his head in, stop believing he is better than he is and fulfil his immense talent. Cam Murray is the superstar at Souths for mine. Leads by example. Always plays at 100% and is modest. Latrell needs to model himself more on his great captain.
The owl
Roar Rookie
Are the roosters missing him? Maybe however he is too high maintenance & goes missing when the pressure is on. As Billy ocean sang "when the going gets tough the tough get going". Not to a concert though!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I could be mistaken, but I think his attitude is part of feeling elitist. He doesn't handle being pushed, he expects special treatment sometimes from refs etc, he was one of the first to act up in tackles looking for the bunker to intervene... He is an elite talent, not necessarily an elite personality.