South Sydney’s nightmare NRL season has taken 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 during two match incidents “stupid,” the guard was charged with Level 2 dangerous contact between his forearm and Shaun Johnson’s face.
The superstar’s horror court record means that even if he quickly pleads guilty, he will miss three matches, while he faces a fourth if he contests the charge in court and loses.
Mitchell avoided a charge after being flagged for a dangerous throw at Warriors forward Tohu Harris during Saturday’s 34-4 loss.
Latrell Mitchell faces a suspension of up to four games following his loss to the Warriors.
But any forearm ban on Johnson’s head could potentially leave the Rabbitohs backline in tatters, with the club having won just one of their opening five games.
Souths are already without veteran winger Alex Johnston (hamstring) for another month, while center Campbell Graham (sternum) is out for most of the year.
Chopped halfback Lachlan Ilias broke his leg yesterday in the NSW Cup, while his replacement Dean Hawkins is yet to make his first-grade mark.
Mitchell’s looming ban likely means the club will call on 20-year-old Jye Gray to make his debut in his place against Cronulla on Saturday night.
Demetriou criticized Mitchell’s behavior after Saturday’s match incidents but refused to publicly condemn the fullback’s history of trouble.
“They’re both stupid things. You have to be better, it’s as simple as that,” Demetriou said.
“I will have these conversations (with him) during the week (about his behavior). This is not something I need to talk about at the moment.
Mitchell has had a dramatic start to the season.
The superstar’s horror court record means that even if he pleads guilty quickly, he will miss three matches.
He attracted attention in round two 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 convicted of a professional foul on Roosters captain James Tedesco the following week, then fined for a collision with Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr last week.
His problems came just as pressure mounted on the Rabbitohs and Demetriou.
Top of the table last May, Souths suffered the biggest capitulation in NRL history, losing nine of their last 13 matches to miss the 2023 final.
The tailspin came when assistant coach and club legend Sam Burgess left the team, concerned about what he felt was preferential treatment towards Mitchell and Cody Walker.
The Rabbitohs’ woes have continued this season, beaten by Manly, Brisbane, the Sydney Roosters and now the Warriors.
Their only victory came against Canterbury on Good Friday, with the club starting 1-4, their worst since 2008.
Separately, Dolphins utilityman Kurt Donoghoe faces a three-game suspension for a high tackle on Samuela Fainu, which can be reduced to two games with a guilty plea.
The Dolphins are nursing a large number of injuries following Saturday night’s win over the Tigers, with Thomas Flegler (shoulder), Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) and Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) all injured.