Souths star Latrell Mitchell is expected to face scrutiny from the NRL match review committee after being sent to the sin bin for an ugly tackle on Sua Fa’alogo.
The Storm livewire had made a break and had just passed a ball on when he was hit high by Mitchell.
Faalogo was falling slightly as Mitchell dived forward to lay a hit on, which left the Souths fullback in an awkward position and he ultimately collected Fa’alogo’s head with his shoulder.
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Fa’alogo would end up failing his HIA so he’ll miss at least one game.
Mitchell was binned but it’s likely that isn’t his only punishment given his history.
Mitchell is the eighth player to be sent to the sin bin during Anzac weekend through four matches.
“There is trouble here. Latrell Mitchell did not miss,” Cooper Cronk said in commentary.
“That doesn’t look pretty for Latrell Mitchell who has a wretched history when it comes to the judiciary,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane added.
“He’s been found over a dozen times guilty and he might be off to the sin bin.
“And if that holds up, he’s going to miss time.
“That’s pretty ugly. That looked a hell of a lot worse than those slow motion (replays).”
Mitchell countered that he “fell over” but referee Peter Gough wasn’t having it.
“Latrell is going to be in some trouble when the judiciary comes out,” Cronk said.
Rugby league great Greg Alexander says while he thinks Mitchell will be suspended, there are “mitigating circumstances” which could play in his favour.
”Sua Fa’alogo was two feet off the ground by the time Latrell hit him and we’re watching in slow motion which makes everything looks worse,” Alexander said.
“Very hard to change. Latrell had bent his back. If Sua Fa’alogo stays at normal height, Latrell hits him in the waist.”
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Mitchell also had a couple of allies behind enemy lines in Storm captain Cam Munster and coach Craig Bellamy.
Munster said he’s not sure what Mitchell was meant to do in this instance.
“It’s a contact sport and I know we’re trying to protect players but it’s very hard to determine how hard (the force) is,” Munster said.
“It’s slippery out there, it’s wet, there’a a lot of speed, Sua’s very quick, Latrell’s very big. I don’t know where you want Latrell to go there.
“Sua’s obviously trying to engage him before the pass and he’s slipped over. I feel like sometimes it’s hard to get out of those positions when you’re fully committed to the contact.
“There wasn’t a heap of malice by the look at it. I know where the game is trying to go ny protecting players but as long as we keep it consistent around the game I don’t have a problem with it.”
Bellamy shared a similar opinion as his skipper.
“I’m probably not the one to judge but I just think in the game, there are a lot of when people get hit high, they’re dropping. I don’t know if you can control that.
“I don’t think there was too much malice in it.”
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