![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
Save<\/p>\nSave<\/p>\n
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n
Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell is expected to return from a back injury<\/a> in time for Origin I for NSW, with Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett revealing the game\u2019s most in-form centre was almost in tears because of the pain at half-time last weekend.<\/p>\n Bennett also took a swipe at the NRL for breaking the news of Mitchell\u2019s injury before Souths did, saying: \u201cThey aren\u2019t great at holding secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell was ruled out with a back injury on Thursday, which was revealed by the NRL \u2013 not Souths \u2013 when debutant Latrell Siegwalt appeared in the No. 23 jersey on the official team lists.<\/p>\n Bennett said Mitchell had since received a cortisone injection, and while he would miss Saturday\u2019s clash against Cronulla, he was an outside chance of returning next week against the Dolphins for Magic Round in Brisbane.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a bulging disc in his back, and he probably shouldn\u2019t be out for more than a couple of weeks \u2013 I don\u2019t think he\u2019s in doubt [for Origin I],\u201d Bennett said on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got some treatment for it and got a needle [on Thursday]. He\u2019s reacted pretty well to it all. Hopefully we might have him back next week. If not, he\u2019ll certainly be right for NSW; State of Origin is two and a half weeks away at least, so he\u2019ll certainly be right by then.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell scored one of the great tries of the season when he charged over the top of Newcastle\u2019s Kalyn Ponga<\/a> late in the game on Sunday, then reached out for the match-winner, only to be set upon by five Knights.<\/p>\n Bennett said it was a brave effort from Mitchell considering the state he was in at half-time. \u201cHe told me he was in a lot of pain, I asked him if he could carry on and he said he could,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got home and the following morning he could hardly walk. He\u2019s been in a fair bit of pain most of the week. It was pretty brave. It probably didn\u2019t help his situation this week. But we didn\u2019t know at the time what it was.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was close to tears at half-time \u2013 he went back out and we all saw what he did.\u201d<\/p>\n The likely inclusion of Mitchell is a huge boost for the Blues who have several players unavailable through injury and suspension.<\/p>\n Bennett looked visibly frustrated the NRL had broken the news of Mitchell\u2019s withdrawal. Souths needed the NRL\u2019s permission to bring in Siegwalt from outside the original 22-man squad, and were told to keep quiet until it was all confirmed, said Bennett.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NRL aren\u2019t great at holding secrets, and it wasn\u2019t a secret either,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cI think it\u2019s the club\u2019s responsibility to nominate their players and when they\u2019re in the team or out of the team. I don\u2019t think it is an NRL decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing about integrity that was being questioned there. But surely the club\u2019s got a right to tell their people, or get ourselves sorted out here before we\u2019re inundated with phone calls and the rest that goes with it.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a staff member tell me the NRL said for us to not say anything at that time. That was fine, but then it was contrary to what happened. I think it\u2019s the club\u2019s prerogative to make that announcement \u2013 it\u2019s such a big-name player as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Such is Mitchell\u2019s influence, bookmakers reacted to Mitchell\u2019s withdrawal, by installing Cronulla as firm favourites.<\/p>\n Another perspective Siegwalt will make his debut, with his family making the hurried trip from Queensland for the special occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very good athlete, very highly skilled, he\u2019s got his opportunity and I\u2019m pleased for him,\u201d Bennett said.<\/p>\n Siegwalt and halfback Ashton Ward, who plays his first game for the season after overcoming an ankle injury, were locked in a goal-kicking shootout after training, \u201conly for a couple of other no-hopers turning up and trying to convince me they could kick as well\u201d, Bennett said with a smile.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Latrell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/c3114cfb06b48d3f18954429c635b31ff1b895eb.jpeg\")
Latrell Mitchell is expected to be fit for Origin I.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Rabbitohs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/eb00537dbc2cce507ce6a4015d6cd9e630df0b48.jpeg\")
Rabbitohs debutant Latrell Siegwalt (pink boots) trains at Heffron Park on Friday morning.Oscar Colman<\/p>\n![\"Latrell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fc2dae369a125c66776449a859e8c8b78cd6b902.jpeg\")
Latrell Mitchell was in ominous form for Souths Sydney against the Knights on Sunday.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778209574_306_5016263c930c758344c2261402d6b3666f0c2c20d0253923ec6616a80578e9e6.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n