Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton have avoided suspension for their respective charges in the Rabbitohs’ furious Good Friday match against the Bulldogs.
Mitchell received merely a fine following a nasty contact with Josh Addo-Carr that left the Bulldogs flyer with an unsightly concussion.
Wighton will not be on the sidelines after avoiding a charge for a possible hip drop tackle on Bulldogs backrower Jacob Preston.
However, the Bulldogs’ Kurtis Morrin was suspended for at least two games for a brutal lifting tackle on Bunnies skipper Cameron Murray.
Morrin faces a three-game suspension if he is found guilty by the court.
Addo-Carr was charging down the left flank when centre Isaiah Tass tackled him out of the field before Mitchell entered the tackle.
The Rabbitohs superstar’s hip collided with Addo-Carr’s head, leaving the winger face down on the Accor Stadium turf.
Mitchell immediately went to assist his opponent and attempted to shelter him before he was able to get to his feet and walk to the changerooms.
It was revealed Addo-Carr wouldn’t return to the field after halftime, while Latrell Mitchell wasn’t sent to the sin bin, meaning the Bulldogs were unable to activate their 18th man.
“Addo-Carr only now on his feet after he was crunched in a tackle… there was some very heavy contact from the hip of Latrell Mitchell, all in the act of scoring,” Yvonne Sampson said.
“The scenes weren’t great when he originally went down because he did not move, but he’s up to his feet,” Greg Alexander said.
Mitchell was not placed on report on the field and was only slapped with a $1800 fine should he take the early plea.
Should Mitchell appeal the charge, he could be fined $2500 if found guilty by the match review committee.
The NRL has placed greater importance on the tackler’s responsibility and Fox League pundit Corey Parker explained his tackle could be considered “careless”.
“I think there is, it happened so quickly but it’s careless from Latrell’s point of view, the contact is made through the hip,” Parker said.
“He’s just coming across with his body but makes contact in a really awkward position. Careless may be a word that’s thrown up.”
“He might have a little bit to deal with, he comes in and his hip just collect Josh Addo-Carr in the head, it’s a tough one,” Ennis said.
“There’s so much responsibility on the fullbacks to try and save those tries, he was already out… the fact he used his body, it might just save him.”
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