South Sydney hands down $100k Latrell Mitchell sanction as key issue remains over NRL ban

Latrell Mitchell has finally learnt his fate over the white powder photo scandal, with South Sydney and the NRL handing down their sanctions on Thursday. Mitchell has accepted the sanctions from both his club and the NRL for bringing the game into disrepute for his latest off-field controversy, as debate rumbles on around when the fullback will actually serve his ban. There is no suggestion the white powder was an illicit substance or that Mitchell was guilty of any wrongdoing, but it was a bad look for the game nevertheless.

The NRL slapped Mitchell with a one-game suspension, a $20,000 fine and a requirement for him to undertake education and training as advised by the NRL Wellbeing and Education Department. And on Thursday, the Rabbitohs confirmed they had also hit the 27-year-old with a $100,000 fine - $20,000 of which is payable immediately and $80,000 suspended pending any further breach of his playing contract or wellbeing program.

"This has been a very challenging time for everyone at South Sydney, including staff and management, coaches, players, Members, supporters, and Latrell himself," Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said on Thursday. "Most importantly, it has been very difficult for his family. This is not lost on Latrell.

"He has shown great remorse and given us a solid commitment to improve himself, make better decisions, and to work towards becoming the best dad he can be to his children, the best partner he can be to Brielle, and the player he can be for the Rabbitohs. He has taken full responsibility for his decisions and his actions. I, along with the Board and management, are confident that this will be a turning point for Latrell and that he will make better decisions in the future. We are committed to helping him do that."

Souths slammed over handling of Latrell Mitchell saga

The latest development comes after the Souths CEO and the club was slammed for remaining so quiet on Mitchell since the photo controversy. The Rabbitohs were branded "unprofessional" from the likes of league greats Corey Parker and Braith Anasta for allowing Mitchell to leave a meeting with the Souths board on Tuesday without a club official accompanying him to answer questions from the waiting media pack. And Fox League's James Hooper told NRL 360 on Wednesday night that it was a huge failure from the club.

“The silence has been deafening from South Sydney,” Hooper said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night. “I actually think it’s quite damning. “Where I think (Rabbitohs CEO) Blake Solly has been badly exposed here is the fact that he’s gone under the doona and we haven’t seen or heard from anybody... Blake is trying to hide behind red tape, employing some diversion tactics saying, ‘We’ve got to wait from the NRL, we can’t do this, we can’t do that.’ That’s garbage.”

Question remains over when Latrell Mitchell serves ban

The other major issue around the Mitchell saga is when the 27-year-old will serve his one-game ban, amid uproar over suggestions the sidelined star could take it in the final round. Mitchell is still out after suffering a Lisfranc injury and interim Souths coach Ben Hornby has already suggested he won't play again this season. Souths have very little left to play for and risking their $1.2 million star by rushing him back for the final round makes little sense.

Mitchell has not even been training with the Rabbitohs and league great Gorden Tallis warned it would open a “Pandora’s box” if he was allowed to serve the ban this season when he's injured. “It doesn’t look like he’s playing anytime soon at the moment looking at the footage," Anasta said on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.

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The Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) has backed the move for Mitchell to serve the ban this year and has indicated it doesn't matter whether he trains or not. But Hooper says the NRL will ultimately have the final say and has urged league bosses to be "fair and reasonable" when making their call.

“The NRL can adjudicate, given the circumstances, on what they feel is a fair and reasonable punishment,” Hooper said. “Of course it matters if he trains, If he can’t train, he can’t play.” Mitchell will most likely serve his one-game ban as the start of the 2025 season. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has already suggested Mitchell was not going to be selected for the end of season international games due to his injury and lack of playing time. This is despite Mitchell playing a pivotal role at centre for the Blues in the State of Origin series win.