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.
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.
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
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
Considering it is neither a personal character attack or vague conspiracy theory I believed I've cleared my bar pretty comfortably, I can't help that you keep hitting your head on the bar on the way through though. Maybe instead of trawling through my past comments looking for a gotcha moment you should work harder on analysing games of rugby league.
Redcap
Roar Guru
But, if everything's a conspiracy...
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Last word! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Conspiracies everywhere :shocked:
The Barry
Roar Guru
You can’t claim last word by writing last word…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Last word! :laughing:
Redcap
Roar Guru
Well, this fantasy version of yourself is new (as far as i know), but how many versions is this now? Fantastically predictable. :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Parody implies humour… you’re boring childish triumvirate BS isn’t funny in the slightest…
The Barry
Roar Guru
All lies bro… look at the time stamps…
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
That's incorrect, sometimes there is only one side to a dispute and sometimes there is three or more. I am on the side that believes you should save the personal character attacks and vague conspiracy ramblings for Facebook, you'll fit right in.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Not deflecting. Calling as it is. Your lot Hunt in a pack. Sigmas can survive without a pack to hide behind. Bring it on.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
My NRL Triumvirate through line is part truth part parody and I decide when it is either one or the other.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
1. Your NRL Triumvirate wise crack was on a forum (Live call) that prepares this one. Q.E.D. you started it. 2. My first comments on this forum were on topic and I never replied to you. 3. You were the first to reply to me or join an argument against me. 4. You lose! :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Have you posted anything on topic? All I see is personal attacks and boring paranoid triumvirate ramblings Have you ever said anything about anything that’s happened on a footy field? Don’t you have some minorities to go and oppress or a biter to defend…? Laughing stock :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
PS - everyone is laughing at you for your triumvirate nonsense Why are you singling me out? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s all time stamped bro… you turned it from a genuine discussion to personal insults… as usual
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
But you chose to begin the discussion. You also chose to stir the pot by trying to get a cheap laugh referencing the NRL Triumvirate laced with sarcasm. You chose to engage with me. Not the other way around. Stop rolling in the mud and then trying to claim the moral high ground.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
There are always two sides to any dispute. Clearly you have picked a side. Do you disagree with anything I have posted on topic?
Redcap
Roar Guru
Deflecting on to somebody else now. So predictable.
The Barry
Roar Guru
How bad is your comprehension? For the third time - my reply was an objective, calm response directly to what you had written Your response is personal insults and weird stalker psychobabble about groupies and utopias You can’t lie your way out of this one champ. It’s all directly above and time stamped…