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Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell has found himself in hot water once again, sin binned for a hip-drop tackle in his side’s drought-breaking 42-26 win over the Eels.
The 26-year-old, who was filling in as captain on Saturday night, was given his marching orders before half-time for an awkward tackle on Sean Russell, who immediately clutched at his ankle following the incident.
After a review from the Bunker, on-field official Chris Butler explained the situation to a frustrated Mitchell, who walked off the field at Accor Stadium.
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“It wasn’t a classic hip-drop, he didn’t lose his feet but it did have the twisting motion,” commentator Warren Smith said on Fox League.
Mitchell had only recently returned from a three-game suspension and could face the brunt of the NRL match review committee once again.
Given the recent confusion around hip-drop tackles, headlined by Valentine Holmes avoiding suspension, Mal Meninga conceded it could go either way for Mitchell.
“If you want to describe it as a hip-drop, I think it is,” he said on Fox League.
“He has lost his feet and slid down the legs and obviously landed on the back of young Russell’s calves and ankles.
“It will be interesting to see where the penalty arrives – obviously with Val the other night, it could be anything, I’m not quite sure.”
If he were to face suspension, Mitchell would be unavailable for the NSW Blues, who will select their squad for the State of Origin opener at the conclusion of round 12.
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South Sydney started off nicely against Parramatta, scoring four tries in the opening 26 minutes before the Eels bounced back and narrowed the margin before the break.
The pain continued for the Bunnies after half-time, with Jack Wighton taken from gthe field for a head injury assessment, before Jai Arrow was also forced off after a nasty head clash with teammate Taane Milne.
Arrow passed his HIA and returned but the news wasn’t as positive for Wighton, who failed his assessment and will now be placed under the NRL’s concussion protocols.
Morgan Harper crossed in the corner while Souths were down to 12 men and missing two more key players due to head knocks.
In a bizarre turn of events, Joe Ofahengaue was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle mid-way through the second half, but wasn’t sin binned by the officials and was only placed on report, leaving league great Corey Parker stunned.
“You’re asking me questions I don’t have the answers for,” he said.
“This is what frustrates so many – have a look at the crowd, they are up on their feet. It frustrates the living daylights out of the crowd and the spectators.
“I don’t know. At no stage during my time of being involved in football clubs and coaching, have I ever seen clubs coach that way going into tackles.
“Losing your legs, applying pressure to the lower parts of limbs – it’s not done, it’s not coached that way, I don’t understand.”
While speaking to the referee, Mitchell was “incensed” according to commentator Warren Smith after his incident saw him sat down for 10 minutes at a crucial time.
Maika Sivo’s try with 15 minutes remaining gave Parramatta some hope of setting up a grandstand finish, but a smart grubber kick from Mitchell to set up Damien Cook – who was playing in the centres – put the icing on the cake for the Rabbitohs.
Keaon Koloamatangi scored his second try in the dying stages to cap off an incredible night, which saw the back-rower finish with close to 200 run metres.
“Hasn’t he rocketed back to form in this game,” Parker said on commentary.
It marked the first victory of Ben Hornby’s tenure as interim coach at Redfern and the first time the team had won since a tight clash with the Bulldogs on Good Friday.
