LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a dramatic turn of events reminiscent of a scrappy last-minute try, South Sydney Rabbitohs' star fullback Latrell Mitchell finds himself in hot water after his elbowing incident involving Shaun Johnson during Saturday's showdown with the New Zealand Warriors.
Mitchell now faces a potential three-game suspension, a bitter blow for the struggling Rabbitohs who are currently languishing with a one and four record, akin to a team fumbling the ball in their own half.
During the clash, as Johnson made a tactical approach towards Mitchell in a bid to complete a crucial tackle, the fiery fullback responded with a controversial elbow to Johnson's back, a move that did not go unnoticed.
While Mitchell managed to escape any immediate repercussions during the match, the NRL's match review committee swooped in with a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge, akin to a referee spotting a high tackle in the heat of battle.
The Rabbitohs' woes, reminiscent of a team struggling to find their footing in a hostile environment, have been compounded by Mitchell's disciplinary issues, leaving them in a precarious position moving forward.
It remains to be seen how the club will fare in Mitchell's absence, like a team missing their star player during a crucial playoff match.
Only time will tell if the Rabbitohs can rally together and overcome this setback, as they strive to turn their season around and mount a comeback that will go down in Rugby League folklore.