Latrell Mitchell backed by Storm leaders after sin-binning

Rabbitoh’s fullback Latrell Mitchell received support from the unlikeliest of places after his sin-binning for a high shot against Sua Fa’alogo on Friday in Melbourne, with Storm leaders Craig Bellamy and Cameron Munster coming to his aid.

The incident occurred early in the second half of South Sydney’s 24-16 loss to the Storm and led to Mitchell being put on report as well as receiving a yellow card.

Fa’alogo was making a break down the wing and had just passed the ball when Mitchell tackled him but was falling forward, which resulted in the 27-year-old striking Fa’logo’s head with his shoulder.

Mitchell has a history of high challenges, leading commentators at the time to speculate that he may receive a multi-game ban as a result.

But Storm captain Munster and coach Bellamy do not think there was anything Mitchell could have done to avoid the outcome.

“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’s a lot of speed, Sua’s very quick, and 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 of it.

“I know where the game is trying to go by protecting players, but as long as we keep it consistent around the game I don’t have a problem with it.”

“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,” Bellamy added.

“I don’t know if you can control that.

“I don’t think there was too much malice in it.”

Rugby league bookmakers had the Rabbitohs as $4.50 underdogs heading into their clash against Melbourne, but they did well to keep themselves in the hunt over the first 40 minutes, heading to the break at 10-all However, momentum swung the Storm’s way early in the second half, with a try to Eliesa Katoa off their first set followed by the sin-binning of Mitchell.

While South Sydney bagged a consolation try in the final five minutes, Mitchell’s yellow card effectively ended their hopes of pulling off an upset.

The victory takes Melbourne to second on the NRL ladder and shortens their title odds to $2.87. BetOnline still has the Canterbury Bulldogs on the second line of betting at $5 with leading bookmakers, despite the club suffering their first defeat this round at the hands of the Brisbane Broncos.

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