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Mitchell's finals at risk over Manu hit

3 minute read

South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell was sin-binned on Friday for a high shot on Joey Manu that could see him suspended for a bulk of the NRL finals.

LATRELL MITCHELL of the Roosters.
LATRELL MITCHELL of the Roosters. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has sprayed the NRL's "farcical" bunker for their treatment of Latrell Mitchell's high shot on Joey Manu in South Sydney's fiery 54-12 win in Brisbane.

Mitchell risks being suspended for some, or all, of the NRL finals series for the wild tackle at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night while Manu was sent to hospital with a suspected cheekbone fracture .

With loading from previous incidents - he missed four games earlier this year on a dangerous contact charge and copped a grade-two striking charge last season - Mitchell could miss at least the first three weeks of finals if handed a grade-two dangerous contact charge.

Robinson was furious with the match officials, who appeared to overlook the incident before Manu angrily approached Mitchell while leaving the field some time after being felled.

Eventually Mitchell was sin-binned, the Roosters coach frustrated with what he said had been a constant player welfare issue after incidents to Roosters players earlier this season led to the NRL's controversial high-contact crackdown.

"He was down for how long then it took Joey to go and stick up for himself and ... they (only) send him for 10 minutes in the bin," the coach said.

"It was laughable, it was that bad.

"It's shown that the NRL bunker can't do their job. It's been a farce, absolute farce.

"I've got this thing about that circus music going on up there in the background, and streamers ... it's like the twilight zone up there when the Roosters are playing."

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett attempted not to weigh into the Mitchell debate, but admitted his third-placed Rabbitohs will likely be without their star man for an extended period.

"I didn't know what to expect, but I knew he wasn't staying on the field," he said.

"It's all emotion isn't it? The moment gets to them and it's about being disciplined ... but they get to write another chapter in the Book of Feuds between the Roosters and South Sydney so I'm sure Russ (Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe) will enjoy that part of it."

The contest between the traditional rival clubs was mild in the first-half, Mitchell's first try against his former side giving South Sydney a 24-6 lead at the break.

It afforded the Rabbitohs the luxury of replacing halfback Adam Reynolds, who had earlier hyper-extended his knee after an innocuous slip.

But with Reynolds off the Roosters lifted, Sam Verrills' try making it 24-12 and sparking the contest to life.

Then came Mitchell's effort on Manu, before Reynolds' return immediately snuffed out any hopes of a Roosters comeback.

It didn't douse the flames though, Mitchell slamming the ball to the ground close to a prone Roosters player after his second try.

Dane Gagai and Sitili Tupouniua were both then sin-binned for a scuffle in the final minutes to cap a turbulent second-half that also included a nasty concussion to Ben Thomas and potential knee injury to Roosters teammate Siosiua Taukeiaho.

Thomas's first tackle of the second half went awry, while Ben Knight was also reported for his role in the tackle that awkwardly rolled Taukeiaho's knee and earned more raised eyebrows from Robinson.

The Roosters had entered the game with 11 players on their injury list, their valiant fight to remain in the top four now vulnerable with Manly able to overtake them if they beat Canterbury on Sunday.

Amongst the carnage Alex Johnston scored three tries for Souths, taking his season total to an NRL-high 27.

Forward Mark Nicholls also scored a double inside five minutes in the first half.

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