The highly anticipated return of Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues centre Latrell Mitchell for his NRL club, South Sydney Rabbitohs, has been brought forward a week after he successfully appealed against his suspension from last season.
Mitchell was originally slated to return in Round 3 against the Sydney Roosters, which would have fuelled plenty of interest after a reckless high tackle on Roosters centre and former teammate Joseph Manu in Round 24 last year saw him suspended for six games.
The Rabbitohs fullback appealed to NRL Judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew, SC, that the All-Stars game on 12 February – which he would have been selected in if he was not suspended - should be treated like an Origin or Test appearance and count towards his ban.
Mitchell has already played three times for the Indigenous team and led the war cry in 2021 and Bellew upheld the appeal after agreeing the All Stars match should count towards his ban.
Mitchell will now miss just the opening Telstra Premiership round clash with the Brisbane Broncos and will be eligible for selection for the Round 2 game against the Melbourne Storm.
This will be Mitchell’s third season with the Rabbitohs. He has scored 17 tries in 31 appearances, after 65 four-pointers in 96 games for the Roosters over four years.
