- Latrell Mitchell faces long-term suspension after being charged
- The star fullback will miss a minimum of three games
- Mitchell was hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge
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South Sydney’s nightmare NRL season has been dealt another blow with Latrell Mitchell facing a suspension of up to four games following their loss to the Warriors.
A day after coach Jason Demetriou called Mitchell’s behavior in two incidents in the game “stupid,” the defender was charged with grade two dangerous contact with his forearm on Shaun Johnson’s face.
The superstar’s horror court record means that even with an early guilty plea he will miss three matches, while he risks playing a fourth if he challenges the charge in the judiciary and loses.
Mitchell avoided a charge after being reported for a dangerous throw on Warriors forward Tohu Harris during a 34-4 loss on Saturday.
Latrell Mitchell faces a ban of up to four games following their loss to the Warriors.
But any penalty for Johnson’s forearm to the head has the potential to leave the Rabbitohs backline in tatters, with the club having won just one of their first five games.
Souths will be without veteran winger Alex Johnston (hamstring) for another month, while center Campbell Graham (sternum) will be sidelined for most of the year.
Sacked halfback Lachlan Ilias broke his leg in the NSW Cup yesterday, while his replacement Dean Hawkins is yet to make his mark in first grade.
Mitchell’s pending suspension likely means the club will call up 20-year-old Jye Gray to make his debut in his place against Cronulla on Saturday night.
Demetriou criticized Mitchell’s behavior after the incidents in Saturday’s game but refused to publicly condemn the defender’s history of finding trouble.
‘They’re both stupid things. You have to be better, it’s that simple,” Demetriou said.
‘I’ll have those conversations (with him) during the week (about his behaviour). It’s not something I should talk about right now.’
Mitchell has had a dramatic start to the season.
The superstar’s horror court record means that even with an early guilty plea he will miss three matches.
He attracted attention in the second round when he swore five times in the space of a minute during a post-match radio interview after Souths’ loss to Brisbane.
The 26-year-old was banned for a professional foul against Roosters captain James Tedesco the following week, and then fined for a collision with Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr last week.
Their problems came as pressure intensified on the Rabbitohs and Demetriou.
First in the standings last May, Souths suffered the biggest capitulation in NRL history, losing nine of their last 13 matches to miss out on the 2023 final.
The freefall came when assistant coach and club legend Sam Burgess left the team, concerned about what he believed was preferential treatment of Mitchell and Cody Walker.
The Rabbitohs’ woes continued this season, beaten soundly by Manly, Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and now the Warriors.
Their only win came against Canterbury on Good Friday, the club’s 1-4 start being their worst since 2008.
In other court news, Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe faces a three-game suspension for a high tackle on Samuela Fainu, which can be reduced to two games if he pleads guilty.
The Dolphins are nursing a large injured room following Saturday night’s win over the Tigers, with Thomas Flegler (shoulder), Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) and Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) all injured.