Souths coach Wayne Bennett has taken umbrage to the NRL’s handling of Latrell Mitchell’s injury situation, after the competition’s official website revealed the star centre wouldn’t play against Cronulla this weekend before the Rabbitohs could announce it themselves.

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Mitchell suffered a bulging disc against the Knights last week but played through extraordinary pain according to Bennett.

Mitchell was in pain all week and he was withdrawn from the Rabbitohs’ side on Thursday. NRL.com was first to break the news with Souths caught off guard by this given they hadn’t had a chance to release their own statement.

This left Bennett unimpressed.

”The NRL aren’t great at holding secrets. It wasn’t a secret either, but I think it’s the responsibility of the club to nominate their players and whether they’re in or out of the team. I don’t think it’s an NRL decision,” Bennett told reporters on Friday.

When journalist Brent Read put to Bennett that the NRL perhaps wanted to get on the front foot to protect the game’s integrity, the super coach bristled at that suggestion.

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“There was nothing about integrity that’s been questioned there, I can tell you now. Surely the club has a right to tell their people or get ourselves sorted out before we’re inundated with phone calls (from journalists) and the rest that goes with it,” he said.

“I think the conversation went something like for us not to say anything when the decision was made that he wasn’t playing … My staff member told me that the NRL said for us not to say anything at that time, so that was fine, but it was contrary to what happened.

“I think it’s the club’s prerogative to make that announcement. He’s a big-name player as well.

“We weren’t going to hold it back but I don’t like the fact that you ring me up, someone else rings me up and we’re not ready to release it and then you feel like you’re letting everybody down then because it’s already been released.”

Mitchell will miss at least one game but Bennett suggested the superstar could miss next weekend’s Magic Round clash against the Dolphins.

Thankfully for Blues fans, Mitchell should be fine to play in the State of Origin opener on May 27.

“He shouldn’t be out for (Game 1). It’s two and a half weeks away so he’ll certainly be right by then,” Bennett said.