Latrell Mitchell, South Sydney Rabbitohs player, received a suspension for a high tackle on Sualauvi Fa’alogo. While some, including Storm coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Munster, argued the tackle was unintentional given the wet conditions and speed of the play, replays showed Mitchell lowering his level but the contact appearing worse in slow motion. The judiciary will determine the final penalty.
This suspension adds to the Rabbitohs’ existing injury problems. Key players like Cody Walker (calf injury, 5-week sideline), Cameron Murray, Jamie Humphreys, Tyrone Munro, Mikaele Ravawala, and Alex Johnston are already sidelined due to injuries.
Coach Jason Hornby acknowledged the tackle looked worse in replays but indicated that both players attempted to mitigate the contact. He deferred further comment to the judiciary's decision.
“I honestly didn’t get a real good look at it, but look, it did look like he lowered his level a fair bit, and Latrell tried to lower his level,” Hornby said.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got nothing more to say on it because it’s going to be dealt with in the judiciary, so I guess I’ll leave it at that.”
Hornby said the replays made the incident look worse than in real time.
“I thought they both tried [to mitigate the contact],” Hornby said. “He [Fa’alogo] was falling, I thought Latrell was trying to lower his level, but when you’re watching it in slo-mo, it obviously looks a lot worse than what it does when it’s split-second stuff . The judiciary will take care of it, and we’ll live with it.”
Mitchell found some unlikely supporters in Storm coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Munster.
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“I know we’re trying to protect a lot of players with obviously the head knocks and stuff, but I’m probably on the side of Craig,” Muster said.
“It’s slippery out there, it’s wet, force on force, a lot of speed, Sua’s very quick, Latrell’s very big and I don’t know where you want Latrell to go there. Sua’s obviously trying to engage him to be able to pass and he slipped over so I feel like sometimes it’s hard to get yourself out of those positions when you’re fully in and into the contact.”
It’s yet another headache for Bennett, who lost playmaker Cody Walker this week to a calf injury. He will spend up to five weeks on the sideline.
The club is also dealing with a raft of other injuries, including captain Cameron Murray, halfback Jamie Humphreys and wingers Tyrone Munro, Mikaele Ravawala and Alex Johnston.
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