Latrell Mitchell put on leave from club duties, will not return in 2024
Updated . First published at
Latrell Mitchell's season is over, interim South Sydney coach Ben Hornby has confirmed.
A combination of the white substance scandal this week and his ongoing recovery from a foot problem suffered against the Eels in round 18 has led to Hornby putting the fullback on leave for the rest of 2024.
Mitchell has reportedly been called to front the Rabbitohs board to argue why he shouldn't have his multi-million dollar contract torn up.
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Latrell Mitchell will not return for the Rabbitohs this season. Getty
"The NRL and the club are going through a process. At the moment he's going to be at home," Hornby told media on Friday.
"For the fans, it's disappointing, but for us we've got to worry about what we can control.
"We've got to win football games – that's where our focus is and if we do that I'm sure the fans will appreciate the effort."
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Although out of the moon boot, Hornby said Latrell wouldn't have returned this season anyway, given he's missed the past two weeks of training. One through illness, and then the second through the scandal.
Hornby also confirmed he and Mitchell had been in contact via text message, but declined to go into detail.
Michell has been interviewed by the NRL integrity unit, and was handed a breach notice on Thursday.
According to 9News Danny Weidler, Mitchell can expect a one-game ban and a hefty fine as formal punishment from the NRL.
He has played just 11 games this season, and missed the balance through a combination of injury and suspension, plus a week on Origin duties ahead of game two.
It's understood the club was frustrated with his sweary rant on Triple M earlier this year, and then angered by the Shaun Johnson brain-snap that earned him a three-week suspension.
Mitchell is signed to the Rabbitohs until the end of 2027 on a deal rumoured to be worth more than $1m a year.
With four games remaining in the NRL season, the Rabbitohs are virtually no chance of making the finals.
