Latrell Mitchell quietly returned to training this week, with South Sydney adamant they want their fullback to “get his head right, and get himself in a good place” as another horror season comes to an end.
Mitchell is expected to be fined and hit with a one-match ban by the NRL for bringing the game into disrepute after a photo emerged of him standing over a white substance in a Dubbo motel room. There is no suggestion the substance was an illicit drug. The penalty was expected to be made public on Friday, but the NRL could yet delay their announcement.
Souths will also sanction Mitchell when he fronts the club’s board next week.
Mitchell was nowhere to be seen as Heffron Park last week, but rejoined his teammates this week in the gym where he started rehabilitation work on his injured foot.
The 27-year-old suffered a Lisfranc injury and will not return this year.
Because of his unavailability for the remainder of the season, which caretaker coach Ben Hornby confirmed last week, the NRL may make Mitchell serve the one-match ban in round one next year. Souths want the ban served this year, and have recruited the Rugby League Players’ Association for support, but that sentiment will be met with stern resistance from rival clubs.
South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell.Credit: Getty Images
Hornby said Mitchell was in good spirits, and the immediate goal for him the remaining three weeks was simple.
“He just has to be the best Latrell he can be – it’s as simple as that,” Hornby said on Friday.
“The boys will motivate themselves. They’re ready to go. He’ll help out where he can, but for him, it’s about getting his head right and getting himself in a good place.
“He’s been into training this week, he had his scan, it came back positive, so he’s out of the [moon] boot now. To go from being out of the boot, who knows how long it will take.
“It has been tough. He knows he’s put himself in that position as well.
“He’s been a lot better this week. He can get on the cardio equipment, but he hasn’t been able to run.”
Hornby would not buy into the debate about when Mitchell should serve his suspension.
“All I know is we have to play this week and try to win with the team we’ve got – the Latrell stuff will take care of itself, the club will take care of it, and we’ll go from there,” .he said.
Souths will argue Penrith’s Taylan May was allowed serve a ban while injured at the start of the 2022 season. However May only injured himself after – not before – the NRL had put a ban in place.
Tyrone Munro will return from a serious collarbone injury against Newcastle on Saturday night, his first game since round six.
