Latrell Mitchell admission backfires on Souths

South Sydney will be without center Richie Kennar, as well as Latrell Mitchell, for the remainder of the season after Kennar received a three-game ban on Sunday. This adds to a tough week for the Rabbitohs, who learned that Kennar was handed the suspension for a high tackle on Wests Tigers rookie Luke Laulilii during Saturday night’s match.

If Kennar submits an early guilty plea to the grade-two careless high tackle charge, he will miss the final three games of the Rabbitohs’ season. The 29-year-old could also potentially miss the opening round next year if he decides to challenge the charge at the judiciary and loses.

Meanwhile, Latrell Mitchell is expected to be suspended for one game after a photo surfaced showing him leaning over a table with what appears to be a white powder. Although there’s no evidence that Mitchell did anything wrong, the NRL has issued him a breach notice, citing that the image has brought the game into disrepute. Mitchell has five days to respond to the notice, and he is likely to receive a one-game suspension and a fine.

Rabbitohs fans hoping that Mitchell could serve the suspension this year will be disappointed. Interim Souths coach Ben Hornby confirmed that Mitchell, who has been dealing with a foot injury, has been placed on leave and will not play again this season. This decision means Mitchell will have to serve his suspension in the opening round of the 2025 season.

Hornby explained that Mitchell’s recovery from the foot injury was delayed due to illness, and with the controversy surrounding the ‘white powder’ photo, the club decided it was best to sideline him for the rest of 2024.

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