- Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell faces one-game NRL ban
- An infringement notice was served following an investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit
- Widely circulated photo of Dubbo hotel room
- In 2022, May was cleared to play finals despite a two-game NRL ban
- A court hearing was held after the incident with a fan in a Queensland pub
South Sydney plan to reference the controversial Taylan May case in a bid to have Latrell Mitchell serve his suspension this NRL season.
The development comes after the troubled fullback was served with a show cause notice by the Rabbitohs outlining possible club sanctions following the white substance scandal in a Dubbo hotel room.
It is understood the Rabbitohs will point to the case involving former Panthers winger May, who in 2022 was given the green light to play in the finals series despite being handed a two-game suspension by the NRL.
The suspension came after May was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm following an incident at a Sunshine Coast pub.
May tore his ACL while playing for the Panthers in the preseason World Club Challenge and missed the entire 2023 campaign, but served his two-game suspension while out.
Mitchell is expected to accept a one-game NRL ban and a $20,000 fine following an investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit, which handed him an infringement notice for allegedly breaching the NRL Code of Conduct.
The Indigenous role model is due to appear before the South Sydney council next week, where he is rumoured to be facing another fine.
He attracted unwanted headlines earlier this month after a photo emerged showing Mitchell leaning over a table with a white substance on it.
South Sydney are planning to use the controversial defence of Taylan May in an attempt to see Latrell Mitchell serve his pending suspension this NRL season
The development comes after the embattled full-back was served with a show cause notice from the Rabbitohs outlining potential club sanctions following the white substance scandal in a Dubbo hotel room (pictured)
Former Panthers star Taylan May has been cleared to play in the 2022 NRL finals series despite being handed a two-game suspension by the NRL following an earlier incident at a Sunshine Coast pub.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the substance was an illegal drug.
Mitchell only played 11 games this season before being sidelined with a foot injury.
Often a magnet for controversy, he was suspended for three matches after a late-match elbow on Warriors scrum-half Shaun Johnson and then became involved in a war of words with Anthony Mundine that dragged on for weeks following the Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam racism saga.
Add to that Mitchell’s expletive-filled interview with Triple M, followed by his public falling out with NRL 360 host Braith Anasta at a Sydney restaurant, and it’s understandable that club bosses have had enough.
‘Trell Mit’ helped the NSW Blues win the Origin series with a standout performance in the second game at the MCG, only to then be injured against the Eels in an incident that ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, former NSW Blues captain Paul Gallen has called for the Rabbitohs to show better leadership when managing Mitchell.
“All you hear from South Sydney is that Latrell is fine, we’re just worried about playing football… well, you can’t be like that when you have someone who constantly causes so much attention, whether it’s positive or negative,” he said this week.
“I don’t think South Sydney are going to nip it in the bud. I see him constantly behaving however he wants and everything keeps going around in circles.
‘I actually feel a bit sorry for him. If he gets fined $200,000 (which is what I’ve heard), I’d be just as dirty if I were Latrell, because I sincerely believe the club has to take some responsibility for its behaviour.
‘Having Wayne Bennett (as head coach next season) there will help, nobody (previously) has had the courage to stand up to Latrell and say ‘no, you can’t do this’.
“And look where they are now.”
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