Latrell Mitchell has returned to South Sydney to begin rehabilitation on his foot, with the Rabbitohs hoping to convince the NRL any ban meted out to the star be served this season.
Mitchell was due to enter his response to an NRL breach notice by Thursday night, after images circulated last week of him standing above a white powder.
There is no suggestion the powder was of an illegal nature, but Mitchell has been hit hard by the NRL for bringing the game into disrepute.
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While particulars of the sanction are yet to be published, AAP has been told the NRL is proposing a one-match ban for the fullback as well as a monetary fine.
There is also a push from head office for the ban to be served at the start of next year, given Mitchell is highly unlikely to play again in 2024 due to injury.
That would come as a blow to returning coach Wayne Bennett, after the club’s horror 2024 season.
But the Rabbitohs are adamant any suspension should be served immediately and ticked off in the final rounds of this year.
In their submission to the NRL, Souths are expected to raise such issues as Taylan May serving a ban for an off-field scuffle while sidelined by an ACL injury.
May’s ban had been determined before his injury and pushed back to the start of the 2023 season to allow him to play in the 2022 finals.
There are also numerous examples of players serving bans for on-field indiscretions while injured, with Parramatta’s Kelma Tuilagi doing so this year.
South Sydney are also understood to have the support of the Rugby League Players Association, with the issue likely to drag into next week.
It has also been reported that Mitchell has been issued with a ‘show cause’ notice by the club and has to meet with the board next week.
The club reportedly has options to tear up his contract, prevent him from playing for 18 rounds, or fine him a whopping 25 per cent of his contract.
A fine is the most likely, however, given it won’t impact the club or team.
Interim Rabbitohs coach Ben Hornby wouldn’t be drawn into the debate on Friday, but said Mitchell had seemed in better spirits in the past week.
“The Latrell stuff will take care of itself, the club will take care of it, and we’ll go from there,” Hornby said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Newcastle.
“It has been tough (for him). He knows he put himself in that position as well. He is starting to come out of it, he’s been a lot better this week.”
The ‘white powder’ scandal comes at the end of a difficult year for Mitchell.
He escaped without punishment for an expletive-laden post-match radio interview in March and was banned for three matches for an on-field high shot in April.
The fullback returned to form through the middle stages of the year to win back his NSW State of Origin jersey, before a foot injury sidelined him in July.
Hornby last week suggested Mitchell would not return this season given the club’s ladder position, but on Friday suggested it was not entirely out of the question.
“He’s had his scan, that came back positive so he is out of the boot now,” Hornby said.
“The conjecture is whether he can run or not. We’ve just got to go through the process. He’s got out of the boot, who knows how long it will take.
“He can get on the cardio equipment, but he hasn’t been able to train.”
– With Cameron Noakes
