Souths star Latrell Mitchell is free to play Origin I despite being charged over a hip drop in the Rabbitohs win over the Eels as he will avoid suspension with an early guilty plea.
Mitchell was charged with Grade 1 Dangerous Contact for the first half tackle on Parramatta centre Sean Russell, which saw the Souths skipper sent to the sin bin.
If Mitchell submits an early plea, he will face a $3000 fine and be available for Origin selection or the Rabbitohs next match.
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However, if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the NRL judiciary, he will be suspended for two matches.
Latrell Mitchell’s hopes of earning a State of Origin recall could be over after the South Sydney superstar was sent to the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle on Sean Russell that will be scrutinised by the match review committee.
With centres dropping like flies in recent weeks, Mitchell had emerged as a genuine chance to fight his way back into the side for the first time since 2021 after a calf injury kept him out of last year’s series.
The Rabbitohs fullback hasn’t been at his brilliant best since returning from suspension a few weeks ago and could be automatically ruled out of the Origin opener if he’s charged and suspended.
Queensland’s Valentine Holmes was also sent to the sin bin for a hip drop on Friday night but avoided a ban with a grade one charge.
Mitchell will be hoping for something similar, with the fullback setting up Alex Johnston as the winger equalled Billy Slater with 190 career tries to go second on the all-time list.
Following Mitchell’s return to the field, one moment left the gun fullback confused after Eels forward Joe Ofahengaue avoided a sin bin of his own.
He was penalised for a dangerous tackle that looked similar to that of Mitchell, but somehow avoided spending 10 minutes sidelined.
“Latrell Mitchell is incensed. He can’t believe it and frankly, neither can you or I,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.
Rugby league legend Corey Parker was equally confused by the decision.
“I don’t know, at no stage in my time of being involved in football clubs and being in clubs have I seen a coach coach that way,” Parker said.
“It’s not done, it’s not coached that way… this is what frustrates so many, have a look at the crowd they are up on their feet.”
Referee Chris Butler said to Mitchell on-field that the Eels defender hit the ground before he made contact with Sean Keppie’s legs.
The NRL has previously made it clear the first point of contact is a contributing factor to whether a tackle is deemed a hip drop or not.
Meanwhile, league icon Mal Meninga was confident Mitchell’s tackle was in fact a hip drop.
“If you want to describe it as a hip drop, I think it is,” Meninga said.
“Obviously landed on the back of young Russell’s calves there, so it could be a hip drop and it will be interesting to see where the penalty arises.
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“With Val the other night, it could be anything so I’m not sure.”
Storm hooker Harry Grant also explained that players use their weight to bring their opponents down.
It’s when they come down on the player they are tackling in an awkward manner that the tackling technique becomes dangerous.
“It’s a hard done to understand, I think it’s when it looks like it is dangerous or there’s a bit of weight falling,” Grant said.
“But at the end of the day when you are making a tackle, you are using your weight to pull them down. If you play it in fast motion it gives you a better understanding.
“But I guess it’s a hard one and one for them to deal with.”
Source Agencies
