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How the NRL did South Sydney a favour by making Latrell Mitchell serve his ban in 2025

Mitchell failed in a controversial bid to serve his one-game ban this season.

adam lucius
Contributor
·2-min read

Braith Anasta was bang on the money when he declared it would be "an absolute piss take" for Latrell Mitchell to serve his one-match ban this year after originally being ruled out of the 2024 campaign through injury. So, congratulations to the NRL for having the kahunas to ignore Souths’ brazen – some would say contemptuous - ploy to convince us Mitchell was fit and right to go for Friday night’s clash with arch-rival the Roosters and therefore should be able to use that game to wipe his suspension slate clean.

The Rabbitohs star will miss the first game of the 2025 season after the NRL stood firm and refused to buckle. A piece of paper may state he’s fit but does anyone truly believe the Rabbitohs would have played their superstar in the last game of the season if not for the chance to erase the one-game ban for the white substance photo?

The NRL denied a request from Souths to have Latrell Mitchell serve his one-game ban this season. Pic: Getty
The NRL denied a request from Souths to have Latrell Mitchell serve his one-game ban this season. Pic: Getty

Just three weeks ago, interim coach Ben Hornby revealed Mitchell would not play again this year. The way the Rabbitohs have tried to work the system since is cynical in the extreme.

To repurpose a favoured line from the Pommy cricket team: It's against the spirit of rugby league. No one is doubting the integrity of the independent doctors who reportedly gave Latrell a clean bill of health and said he was up to playing on Friday night.

But that doesn’t mean it passes the pub test…or the RSL, bowling, leagues or Rotary Club test. And it certainly doesn’t help the perception Mitchell is treated differently to others.

The Rabbitohs apparently issued 'last chance' warnings to their marquee player after the white substance scandal and then threw themselves into contortions in an attempt to free their main man for the start of next year. Would it not have been in the club's best long-term interests to let the one-game suspension play out the way it was intended?

Pictured here is Souths star Latrell Mitchell.
The NRL has denied a request from Souths to let Latrell Mitchell serve his suspension this season. Pic: Getty

Having Mitchell sit out the first game of the season sends a stronger message that his behaviour will no longer be tolerated. As one fan wrote as the Bunnies went down their medical rabbit hole: "This is why his attitude won’t change.

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"They are confirming in his mind he is a superstar and the game is not the same without him. (It's saying) look at me beat them again." By blocking this avenue of escape and telling Mitchell something he doesn’t hear too often – ‘No’ - the NRL may have done South Sydney a huge favour.