LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a huge blow for South Sydney, star player Latrell Mitchell has been suspended for their upcoming clash against the Sydney Roosters.
Mitchell was charged by the NRL match review committee with a grade two dangerous contact offense after elbowing Tyson Frizell during their game against the Knights.
As a result, Mitchell has received a one-week ban with an early guilty plea.
The timing of Mitchell's suspension is particularly significant as it means he will miss the highly anticipated match against his former team, the Roosters.
This clash could potentially determine which team makes it to the finals, adding even more weight to Mitchell's absence.
This isn't the first time Mitchell has faced suspension this season.
He was also suspended during Souths' run to the 2021 grand final due to a high tackle on Joseph Manu.
The Rabbitohs' coach, Jason Demetriou, has confirmed that Blake Taaffe will step in as fullback in Mitchell's absence.
Adding to Mitchell's woes, a video of him 'shot-gunning' a beer at a Luke Combs concert last week has surfaced, further tarnishing his reputation after a poor performance against the Knights.
Despite Mitchell's impressive stats of running for over 200 meters and breaking 12 tackles, his two costly errors directly led to Newcastle tries.
Meanwhile, the Knights are celebrating their seventh-straight victory, with Kalyn Ponga once again showcasing his masterclass skills.
However, the same cannot be said for Mitchell, who had a challenging game and will now face the consequences of his suspension.
South Sydney will undoubtedly feel the impact of Mitchell's absence in their crucial game against the Roosters.
It remains to be seen how they will adjust their game plan and whether they can overcome this setback to secure a spot in the finals.