In what has been hailed as “great news for South Sydney fans”, Latrell Mitchell will be available for the round-one clash with the Dolphins following a key NRL decision.
The NRL has ruled that both Mitchell and new Parramatta signing Josh Addo-Carr can use the All Stars clash on February 15 towards their respective suspensions.
Rabbitohs fullback Mitchell was handed a one-match ban after a photo emerged of him standing above a white substance last year in a hotel room in Dubbo, an action which was ruled to have brought the game into disrepute.
Addo-Carr was sacked by Canterbury after testing positive to cocaine in a roadside drugs test last year and was handed a four-match ban.
He has already served one match after missing the Bulldogs’ semi-final against Manly. In a coincidental twist he will now be available for the round-three showdown between Parramatta and Canterbury.
Both players have been Indigenous All Stars regulars and the NRL took that into account in making the decision. Mitchell has played six times for the side, including last year as captain. Addo-Carr has represented the team on four occasions.
Mitchell, 27, has played some of his best football under returned South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett. And Bennett will now have him on deck for the round-one blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium against the Dolphins on March 7, the club he coached for the past two seasons.
Mitchell’s appearance is a win for both the Rabbitohs and the code as he is set to line up in a head-to-head battle with Dolphins superstar No.1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Rabbitohs legend Craig Coleman said the Mitchell news was key for the club as they look to bounce back from a 16th-placed finish in 2024.
“Having Latrell back for round one is good news for all South Sydney fans,” Coleman told AAP.
“You want your best team in round one and to start the season off on a good note, especially after the last couple of seasons where we have been pretty bad.
“I have seen a few photos of Latrell on the Souths’ web page and he looks fit.
“Wayne Bennett is a genius man-manager and gets the best out of everyone and a lot of Souths fans will be hoping he does the same with Latrell again.
“Go back four years and Latrell had a stellar year under Bennett.”
Coleman is a big supporter of Bennett who took the side to two preliminary finals and a grand final in his three years in charge from 2019-2021.
“Wayne Bennett has been around for four decades, has coached more games than anyone and won more premierships than anyone that is still coaching,” he said.
“He took us to the grand final in 2021 and is just what Souths need.”
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