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Latrell Mitchell is set to turn down a Kangaroos call up for the end of year Tests with New Zealand and Samoa and instead have surgery on a hand injury.
The Souths superstar has been carrying the complaint since his return to NRL action against the Wests Tigers and will now opt to go under the knife rather than soldier on through international footy.
It is reported that he will inform Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga on Tuesday of his decision. Mitchell was convinced by Meninga to travel to last year’s World Cup despite his intentions to stay home on his farm in Taree, and was always in slight doubt this year given his reticence to travel.
His absence leaves Meninga in a bind. From last year’s squad, he has lost Mitchell and Jack Wighton, who retired from rep footy and would now likely be suspended anyway following allegations of biting on Sunday during Canberra’s finals loss to Newcastle.
Val Holmes, who played on a wing in the World Cup but has featured as a centre all year, has been in the middle of an NRL Integrity Unit investigation after being photographed with a bag of white powder.
The other two centre options who travelled to England last year, Campbell Graham and Matt Burton, were left out of the train-on squad, with Burton dropped for form reasons and Graham unfit afer playing almost all of the 2023 season with a sternum injury.
The most likely option as it stands is a debut for one of Kotoni Staggs or Bradman Best, or a call-up for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow – though he played for Samoa, one of Australia’s opponents, in the World Cup.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Val Holmes has claimed that the photo of him with a bag of white powder in his mouth was a joke gone wrong in his representations to the NRL over the matter.
In a video call with the NRL and his club, the Cowboys, Holmes is reported to have insisted that he did not take cocaine or any other drug. Players cannot be tested out of competition as per the rules in the CBA agreement.
The NRL is preparing a report and will likely issue it this week in order to clarify Holmes’ situation ahead of international selection, and while they cannot suspend the player due to lack of testing, they could instead opt to censure him for bringing the game into disrepute.
Last year, three Melbourne players – Cam Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Smith – were fined and banned after an unknown whiie powder was seen on a table in a photograph, while Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was banned after being arrested and charged with cocaine possession.
Mitchell Pearce of the Blues looks on before game three of the 2019 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on July 10, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Veteran playmaker Mitchell Pearce has shut the door on a return to the NRL, announcing he will retire from rugby league.
Pearce will bow out after almost two decades in the game when the halfback completes his commitments with second-placed Super League club Catalans Dragons.
A teenage NRL debutant in 2007 with the Sydney Roosters and a premiership winner in 2013, Pearce played 238 games at the club before he was squeezed out by Cooper Cronk’s arrival at the end of 2017.
He took his NRL career games tally to 309 in four years at Newcastle, before exiting the Knights for the Super League at the end of 2021.
“I’ve decided that this season will be last in rugby league,” the 34-year-old posted on social media.
“What a journey it’s been. I finish the game knowing I have given every bit of my heart and soul for nearly 18 years.
“I’ve had some amazing times and leave the game with friends I know I’ll have for the rest of my life.
“I still have a job to do with Catalans Dragons and I’m all in to go after that trophy and make history for French rugby league.”
Despite regularly taking the Roosters to the top four, Pearce was never far from the spotlight both on and off the field.
It was in the State of Origin arena where he received the most attention, with his selection at No.7 for NSW coming during a period of dominance for Queensland.
But he was able to finally win a series in his 19th and last match for the Blues, called in to replace Nathan Cleary for the 2019 decider.
After two seasons in the Super League, there had been speculation he could return to the NRL this year when he was approached by Benji Marshall to join Wests Tigers.
With AAP
© AAP