NRL news: Latreille banned as Souths bid rejected, Storm forward learns fate, Billy hits out at Keaton critics
South Sydney are considering their next options in the Latrell Mitchell affair after the NRL said their fullback must serve a one-match ban next year.
The NRL confirmed on Friday that the Rabbitohs’ final round match against the Sydney Roosters would not be included in Mitchell’s ban, as the league is not satisfied Mitchell is fit.
Mitchell hasn’t played since suffering a leg injury against Penrith on July 4. The Rabbitohs said last month he wouldn’t play again this season.
A photograph taken with white powder led to a one-match ban on him, with Souths insisting Mitchell was fit and eligible to serve the ban period.
However, the NRL moved to end the long-running dispute on Friday morning, less than 12 hours before the Rabbitohs and Roosters clash.
Latrell Mitchell. (Photo: Mark Metcalf/Getty Images)
“The NRL has informed the South Sydney Rabbitohs that Latrell Mitchell will not be able to serve his suspension in round 27,” an NRL spokesperson said.
“Based on the information provided, the NRL is not satisfied that the player is fit and available to play in Round 27.
“The NRL has sought clarification and additional information from the club in relation to the player’s fitness and availability to participate in the match, including a fitness assessment.
“Despite multiple requests, the facility was not made available in the time required to make a proper and informed assessment of the player’s fitness to take part in this evening’s match.”
“The player will serve a one-match suspension pending his return to action when he is fit and available to play in the 2025 NRL season.”
However, AAP has been told South Sydney has not yet closed the door on the matter.
The club made no public comment on Friday, nor issued a statement, as is traditionally the case with sanctions imposed by the NRL.
Officially, the reason for this is that the club wanted to keep the focus on the field ahead of Damien Cook and Tom Burgess’ final matches, as well as celebrate the arrival of new Immortal Ron Coote.
But the AAP understands Rabbitohs officials will be considering their next move on Mitchell’s situation over the weekend and into next week, and will respond.
Souths have already sought legal advice about the NRL’s handling of the Mitchell matter, and also asked if he could be given an independent fitness test on Thursday.
Players can also traditionally serve bans if they suffer injuries, with Canterbury player Jamon Salmon and Parramatta sophomore Kelema Tuilagi doing so this year.
But the NRL has argued Mitchell’s case is different from others because he was already suffering from an injury when he was charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
The Rabbitohs remained adamant it should make no difference, and then asked for three separate medical reports to convince the NRL that Mitchell was fit to play this week.
At one point the situation became even more farcical when Souths attempted to play Mitchell in the Friday night match despite initially being told he would not be able to serve his ban.
Mitchell also said on social media that he was ready and had asked the NRL for a response.
But that effort also came to an end, with Mitchell not named in the Rabbitohs’ 22-man squad list on Tuesday afternoon.
The decision ultimately means the fullback, if fit, will have to sit out South Sydney’s first match of the 2025 season under returning coach Wayne Bennett.
His ban would cap another miserable season for the Rabbitohs, who sacked coach Jason Demetriou in May and will likely finish the year in 15th place.
It is the latest escalation in tensions between the NRL and South Sydney management, with Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly a long-time critic of league chiefs.
‘Short memories’: Billy Walters hits out at KV critics
Billy Walters has hit back at critics of coach and father Kevvie after the Broncos’ season ended with a crushing 50-12 loss to the Storm at Suncorp Stadium.
After a thrilling Grand Final loss to Penrith in 2023, Brisbane have failed miserably to recover from last year’s loss, and will finish 12th with a 10–14 record.
However, speaking on the subject Triple MWalters said critics of the under-fire coach have a “short memory.”
“He took a team from being the wooden spooner to being in a position to win a competition within five or 20 minutes, to where they lost to probably the best team of the last 40 years,” the younger Walters said.
“I think that’s very harsh criticism but that’s what it is.
Billy believed the Broncos’ decline in status was due to two reasons: key players Tom Flegler, Kurt Capewell, Keenan Palacio and Herbie Farnworth had moved on to rivals before the start of the season, and other players, including captain Adam Reynolds and star fullback Reece Walsh, were sidelined for much of the year with injuries.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but we lost four really good players from last year in Capes, Flegg, Herbie and Keenan,” Walters said.
“As good as the future is for these young boys at our club at the moment, they’ve probably been thrust into the spotlight (early).
“We were probably one of the more challenging teams than last year and unfortunately we didn’t handle it well this year, but hopefully they will all learn from it and come back next year.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters. (Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Storm breathe a sigh of relief as Katoa escapes ban for high shot
Melbourne forward Alyssa Katoa has been charged and reported for striking Brisbane fullback Tristan Sailor, which could impact their finals campaign.
The independent doctor ruled Sailor did not need to go for a HIA in the 61st minute of Storm’s 50-12 defeat, and added he was not hit from above with any force.
Katoa was charged with a Grade 1 careless high tackle for hitting the fullback.
He has been fined $1800-2500 and is free to play in the opening week of the NRL finals.
“I think we’ll be able to use that to our advantage,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“From where I was sitting I didn’t think it was too bad and I was surprised it went in the bin.”
Bellamy also had good news on first-choice fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s loss to North Queensland.
Papenhuyzen is set to play in the first week of the finals after his replacement Su’a Fa’alogo suffered a hamstring injury against Brisbane.
“Peps could have played this week but we didn’t want to take the risk,” Bellamy said.
“We didn’t want him to have pain in his leg before the final and not be able to train for the whole next week, so we thought this was the best way to do it.
“The medical staff thinks Paps will be okay by next week.”
Bellamy said Fa’alogo felt a “twitch” in his hamstring but hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as first thought.
The pocket rocket, who will go for scans, ran for 208 metres and had two try assists in a stellar 57-minute display. If he recovers he could be a dangerous bench option in the final.
“He’s a great runner of the football and is quick like lightning,” Bellamy said.
“The more matches we give him the opportunity to play, the more he will learn about the game and the better player he will become.”
Like all clubs the Storm have been plagued by injuries this season, including star No.6 Cameron Munster missing 10 weeks with a back problem mid-year, but the side still managed 19 wins to top the table.
“Players like Wishy (Tyran Wishart), Grant Anderson and Jack Howarth have done a great job,” Bellamy said.
“They’ve done really well. Sometimes you bring a player into the squad and he’s not ready for first grade, but these players have taken their opportunity, capitalised on it and had success after just a week or two.”
Bellamy has won three premierships as coach of the Storm and is in a strong position to challenge for a fourth.
“You’d love to win a grand final,” he said. “They’re hard to win and hard to get to. You’ve got to do a lot of things right. Hopefully we can play our best football over the next month.”
The Storm will host a qualifying final against the fourth-placed team next week.
Win a Ziggy BBQ on Grand Finals day, thanks to Barbecue Galore! Enter here.
The Knights are prepared for all possibilities
Putting the sound of the game in the ears of Ricky Stuart and Shane Flanagan, Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien says he is preparing his side to play 90 minutes in their clash with the Dolphins.
The winner of Knights-Dolphins is guaranteed a place in the NRL finals but if the match ends in a draw then that honour will go to the winner of Saturday’s clash between Stuart’s Raiders and Flanagan’s Dragons.
With the Knights and Dolphins recording big wins in their last rounds against Gold Coast and Brisbane respectively, O’Brien feels Sunday’s game will be exciting.
“I think it’s going to be very tight,” he said.
“Well, that’s the way we’re preparing for it. If it takes 90 minutes, that’s okay. We’re in for the long haul.”
Dane Gagai’s kicking game was the difference between the two teams in their last meeting this season, with both teams scoring three tries each in the Knights’ 18-14 win.
While Newcastle have home ground advantage, there are few clues to pick a favourite.
Both teams are on 28 competition points after 11 wins and 12 losses, and the Dolphins’ better pros and cons have given them a momentary lead in the table.
Given what is at stake, a packed crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium can expect a thrilling finale.
“It’s going to be two teams that have similar styles,” O’Brien said.
“Both teams like a game with a high completion rate. It will be great to sit on the hill on a Sunday afternoon and watch these two teams play for a result that is really important to both clubs.”
The 46-year-old is hoping for another powerful performance from second row player Brodie Jones, who scored a try and carried the ball 115 metres against the Titans.
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O’Brien dismissed speculation that out-of-contract Hunter Jr could be dropped from the Newcastle squad because of the plethora of forward talent.
When O’Brien was asked if Jones would be at the club next year, he said: “Absolutely.”
“He’s done a fantastic job. A local boy who has come through our system and developed. Yeah, he’s someone we’re proud of and where he’s come in his journey, and I know he’d like to stay here as well.”
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