NRL fans are questioning whether Latrell Mitchell should have been sent to the sin-bin for his actions following a Gold Coast Titans try on Sunday. Mitchell had a blinder as the Rabbitohs beat the Titans 20-18 to get off the bottom of the ladder – a giant step towards potentially avoiding the wooden spoon.
Playing at centre rather than fullback, Mitchell laid on two tries for Alex Johnston while running for 115 metres from 14 carries. He had a line-break and three tackle-busts, and also produced an incredible try-saver when he knocked the ball out of Jayden Campbell’s grasp over the line.
Many thought Latrell Mitchell was lucky to avoid being sin-binned. Image: Getty/Fox League
But many fans felt he might have been lucky to avoid a stint in the sin-bin after lashing out at Sam Verrills following a Titans try. Verrills dived under Mitchell’s attempted tackle in the 65th minute to crash over for a try that got the Titans within two points.
Mitchell appeared frustrated that he’d allowed Verrills to score, and grabbed the Titans hooker by the back of the jersey before flinging him to the ground. Mitchell’s actions occurred well after the try had been scored, and sparked a melee as Titans players took exception.
Latrell Mitchell grabbed Sam Verrills after the try and flung him to the ground. Image: Fox League
Latrell Mitchell’s actions sparked a melee. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Should Latrell Mitchell have been sin-binned?
While not enough to constitute a potential eight-point try, many felt Mitchell should have been binned for the foul play off the ball. Many pointed out that two Roosters players and two Dolphins players were binned on Saturday night for their involvement in a melee. However on that occasion there had already been a warning issued by referee Gerard Sutton, which hadn’t been given on Sunday.
Nevertheless, fans thought Mitchell was lucky to avoid a stint on the sidelines for lashing out. One person wrote on social media: “Latrell Mitchell has taken some agitator pills pre game. That is clear foul play on Sam Verrills after the try.”
Another commented: “If another player did what Latrell did they would be in the sin bin.” While a third added: “Why wasn’t there a penalty kick after the conversion. Against Mitchell for his actions after the try?”
Wayne Bennett lauds Latrell Mitchell after Souths victory
Captaining the side from left centre, Mitchell had a number of brilliant touches in his first game in four weeks due to a quad injury. Speaking after the game, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was full of praise.
“We probably don’t win if he doesn’t play,” Bennett said. “The other guys have all been playing their hearts out and doing their best. He’s just a quality player, in the top four or five in the country, and showed that today.”
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The win moved Souths two points ahead of the Titans, who are now dead-last and staring down the barrel of the wooden spoon. But crucially, the Titans have a bye on the run home and a better for-and-against than the Rabbitohs.
Bennett hasn’t claimed the wooden spoon in 37 years in the premiership, after receiving one in 1981 while coaching Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League. Titans coach Des Hasler has never had the ignominy at any level since entering the coaching ranks.
with AAP