Take the case of Latrell Mitchell, captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who recently found himself in hot water. This happened after a controversial event during a game against the Melbourne Storm. It was for this type of high shot on Sua Fa’alogo that got Mitchell sent to the sin-bin in this contentious incident. The hit —later deemed a “spear” by rugby league icon Andrew Johns—forced the NRL to reckon with Mitchell’s behavior on the field.
The event occurred as the Rabbitohs struggled to gain momentum against the Storm. Despite having only 43 percent of possession and 34 percent of territory, the team faced significant pressure throughout the game. Mitchell’s sending-off was the 13th time he has been sin-binned in his career. This trend of ignoring disturbing details in his disciplinary history is troubling on multiple levels. In fact, just last season he was charged for five separate infractions.
Mitchell’s match performance was inspiring. He played a great game but it wouldn’t have been possible without the return of He started at his strong-side fullback position for the first time this season. Yet, his contributions were lost in the sea of disciplinary problems and the team’s overall failure to register a win all season long. The Rabbitohs would eventually lose to the Storm, which snuffed their championship dreams and pushed their winless streak against them to 20 games in the NRL.
Adding to the drama of the match was a strange incident involving the Swans’ other co-captain, Jye Gray. Mitchell slotted a penalty goal over Ryan Papenhuyzen’s head during the match. That moment was not enough to change this outcome. The Rabbitohs are now facing a third consecutive defeat. This loss only adds another hurdle to the already difficult challenge of getting their racing legs under them in this year’s contest.
Mitchell’s high shot on Fa’alogo that has put him on report, and subsequently exposed him to sanctions from the league. This mishap doesn’t have to ruin Mitchell’s career. Beyond simply maintaining the model, it raises an interesting question for the South Sydney Rabbitohs as they find their way through this crisis period.
