South Sydney’s hopes of welcoming Latrell Mitchell back before the end of the 2026 NRL season have been dealt another blow, with the Rabbitohs superstar continuing to battle a complex nerve injury.
The club has confirmed Mitchell is being assessed by a neurologist after nerve damage that initially complicated a lower back injury later affected his left calf, leaving no clear timeline for his return.
Rabbitohs Still Searching for Answers
Mitchell had been progressing towards a return before suffering another setback during his rehabilitation.
In a statement, the Rabbitohs said Mitchell is trying to overcome “complex nerve damage” that first created complications with his lower back injury before extending to his left calf. The club has referred the representative star to a neurologist as specialists work to determine the best course of treatment.
Coach Wayne Bennett has remained hopeful Mitchell can still feature this season but admitted there is currently no certainty around when that might be.
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Comparisons Drawn With Tom Flegler
The latest developments have prompted comparisons with Dolphins forward Tom Flegler, whose serious shoulder nerve injury kept him sidelined for more than 600 days before his return to the NRL in 2026.
However, there has been no suggestion Mitchell has suffered the same injury as Flegler or that his recovery will follow a similar timeline. The comparison reflects the uncertainty surrounding nerve injuries rather than indicating an identical diagnosis.
Return Timeline Remains Unclear
For now, South Sydney’s priority is understanding the full extent of Mitchell’s injury before setting any return date.
While Bennett has not ruled out Mitchell playing again in 2026, the Rabbitohs are continuing to rely on specialist advice as they monitor one of the competition’s biggest injury concerns heading towards the finals.
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