‘Rules are clear’: RLPA believes Latrell should serve powder ban while injured

The Rugby League Players’ Association has suggested Latrell Mitchell’s impending NRL ban for “bringing the game into disrepute” over a grainy image that appeared to show him with white powder be served while he’s already injured.

“The NRL Rules are clear that a suspension takes effect as soon as it is determined,” RLPA CEO Clint Newton said. “It is not conditional on a player being available to take the field.”

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This would mean Latrell—who was originally expected to miss the start of the 2025 NRL season—would instead be available for selection by the time Round One rolls around in March. This would come after he served the substance-related suspension (which should be one match) in one of the last three weeks of this nearly-ended 2024 campaign.

There’s never really been a chance the star would play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs again this year considering they’re eliminated from finals contention; only making the postseason in a late charge would have seen him return.

No matter when the ban happens, Mitchell will still be whacked with a hefty fine.

🚨🏉 The @RLPlayers believe Latrell Mitchell should be able to serve looming ban while out injured. @SSFCRABBITOHS hopeful #NRL will agree with association’s claims

Says RLPA’s Clint Newton: “It's not conditional on a player being available to take the field.” pic.twitter.com/lS59DDtgZw

— The Sporting Base – NRL (@BaseNrl) August 21, 2024

There are plenty in the NRL world who disagree with the RLPA’s calls, especially pundit and player agent Braith Anasta. He called the whole situation a “piss-take” on talk show NRL 360 on Tuesday and said it would just be “commonsense” to make the 27-year-old fullback serve his upcoming one-game ban when he actually could play.

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Latrell found defence elsewhere in the NRL earlier this week too, with incoming Bunnies boss Wayne Bennett calling for those lambasting him to instead “focus on what he does on the field.”