NRL: Rabbitohs relief after Latrell Mitchell injury update

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have confirmed that star fullback Latrell Mitchell will not need to go under the surgeon’s knife, meaning he is in contention to wear the red and green this season again.

Earlier, it was feared that the New South Wales representative would not be able to return to the pitch before the new NRL season rolls in.

This is excellent news for the Rabbitohs, who have been on a late-season surge in their push for finals qualification.

When can Mitchell expect to return?

Even though he won’t need surgery, Mitchell is expected to sit out at least a month of action.

“Mitchell has been reviewed by a surgeon this morning and a decision has been made to manage his left midfoot injury conservatively, meaning he will not require surgery,” the club’s statement revealed this week.

“Mitchell will get another scan and review in a fortnight’s time to ensure the injury is progressing.”

Mitchell’s night came to a premature end when he picked up a Lisfranc injury last Thursday in the Rabbitohs’ victory over the Eels.

The immediate reaction out of the South Sydney camp suggested he would need at least a month to recover, possibly longer if he needed to undergo surgery.

After a meeting with the specialists, however, the Rabbitohs are confident that the injury is not as bad as many had feared.

Rabbitohs’ top-eight odds still strong

Rugby league bookmakers are paying -526.32 for the Rabbitohs to make the top eight, which puts them in a better position than most NRL outfits.

That scenario seemed impossible only a few weeks ago, when Souths were struggling to bounce back from their nightmarish start to the season.

The Bunnies have finally managed to find the winning formula in recent weeks, saluting in five matches on the bounce to spring back into the finals conversation.

But can Ben Hornby’s men continue the push without one of their most influential players?

Four weeks is a substantial period of time during the business end of the season, so it will be an uphill battle for the Rabbitohs to retain their performance without their superstar fullback.

They are about to face the Tigers, Raiders, Sharks and Storm in their next four matches, with the last two, in particular, shaping up to be a real test of their mettle.

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