Latrell Mitchell faces questions about staying down for penalties in rugby league

Latrell Mitchell has been sin-binned 13 times in his career. This is a high number and raises questions about his on-field behaviour.
By Newsroom | Sports, Rugby League |

Bunker's Role Questioned Amidst Penalty Claims

South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell finds himself at the centre of a storm regarding his on-field conduct, particularly concerning his interactions with the 'Bunker' and claims of deliberately staying down to solicit penalties. Critics argue that Mitchell's actions have turned a spectacle into a 'farce', undermining the integrity of the game by seemingly exploiting video review technology.

Latrell denied by the Bunker - 1

"I got up on my knee, and pretty much looked at the ref and went what's going on?" Mitchell stated, as reported by ESPN, in reference to an incident during a match against the Sydney Roosters. He further elaborated, "We want this week’s penalty to be the same as last week’s penalty and we want Friday’s penalty to be the same as Saturday’s penalty." This statement, however, has been interpreted by some, like Paul Kent of The Daily Telegraph, as contradictory to his denial of trying to "milk" penalties.

The situation gained further traction with reports of a dangerous 'spear' hit on Sua Fa’alogo during an Anzac Day match against the Melbourne Storm. This incident saw Mitchell sin-binned for the 13th time in his career and placed on report. While acknowledged as a reckless tackle by figures such as Michael Ennis, who supported coach Trent Robinson's criticisms of the Bunker's handling, the penalty itself – a sin-binning – was deemed insufficient by some, despite the tackle potentially leading to a significant injury. The match ultimately saw the Melbourne Storm continue their dominance over the Rabbitohs, extending a winless streak to 20 games.

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Latrell denied by the Bunker - 2

Mitchell's involvement with contentious Bunker decisions is not a singular event. Previously, a try scored by Mitchell was disallowed in a match against the Cronulla Sharks after the Bunker ruled that teammate Mitchell Aubusson had impeded an opponent. This decision sparked anger from the then-Roosters skipper, Jake Friend, who confronted the on-field referee.

Latrell denied by the Bunker - 3

More recently, in April 2024, Mitchell was involved in incidents where he received a three-match ban for a grade two dangerous contact charge involving Shaun Johnson. While another incident involving Tohu Harris was also placed on report, it did not result in a charge due to Mitchell's actions to ensure the opponent's safe landing. The NRL's head of football, Graham Annesley, has commented on these decisions, stating some were "not outrageously bad".

The Role of Technology in the Game

The increasing reliance on video review technology, commonly referred to as the 'Bunker', has become a significant talking point in the sport. The chaos of the match against the Roosters, which featured a record seven sin-bins and 15 penalties, highlighted the complex and sometimes divisive nature of these reviews. Some argue that the system, intended to ensure fairness, is being exploited, while others believe it is a necessary tool for officiating modern rugby league. The debate centres on whether the Bunker's intervention, when it does occur, is consistently applied and whether it serves to enhance or detract from the overall spectacle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are people questioning Latrell Mitchell's actions on the field?
Some people think Latrell Mitchell stays down too long to try and get penalties from the referees. They say this makes the game unfair.
Q: What happened in the match against the Sydney Roosters?
During a game against the Sydney Roosters, Mitchell stayed down and then asked the referee what was happening. He said he wants penalties to be the same each week.
Q: What was the dangerous tackle mentioned in the news?
On April 25, 2024, Latrell Mitchell made a dangerous tackle on Sua Fa’alogo. He was sent to the sin-bin for this tackle, which was his 13th time being sin-binned in his career.
Q: How has the 'Bunker' technology been discussed in relation to Mitchell?
The 'Bunker' is a video review system. Some believe it is being used unfairly by players like Mitchell to get penalties. The number of penalties and sin-bins in some games has made people talk more about this.
Q: Has Mitchell been banned before for similar actions?
Yes, in April 2024, Mitchell received a three-match ban for a dangerous contact charge. He was also involved in another incident that was looked at but did not result in a charge.