The NRL has officially ordered Latrell Mitchell to serve a one-game ban in round one of season 2025 despite a last-ditch attempt by the player and his club to do otherwise.
South Sydney hired legal advice and Mitchell took to Instagram on Thursday to try convince head office he could line up against the Roosters on Friday night if he needed to.
Despite that, the NRL on Friday confirmed the star fullback will sit out the first game of next season as punishment for bringing the game into disrepute when images were leaked of him leant over a Dubbo hotel room table that had a white substance on it.
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"Based on information provided, the NRL is not satisfied that the player is fit and available to play in round 27," a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald read.
"The NRL sought clarification and further information from the club concerning the player's fitness and availability to participate in the match, including a fitness assessment.
"Despite several requests, this was not provided in the time required to make a proper and informed assessment of the player's fitness to participate in the match this evening."
It brings an end to the circus that has engulfed the Rabbitohs for a number of weeks.
The team's game against the Roosters on Friday is a dead rubber given they can't play finals regardless of the result.
Sacked South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou believes the bizarre stoush between the club and the NRL was merely a power game between two stakeholders.
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"I think it comes to two blokes battling it out, it comes down to (NRL boss Andrew) Abdo vs (Bunnies boss Blake) Solly, simple as that," Demetriou told Triple M radio.
"There needs to be some clarity, I think, (around) exactly how this process works because discretion opens it up to do whatever you like I suppose.
"The coach in me would like to say take your punishment, get on with it and move on."
While Mitchell apologised last week and accepted his penalties – a one-game ban and a combined $40,000 fine – he took to social medal on Thursday to send a message to the NRL.
"I'm ready to play! I need some answers NRL???" he wrote.
Mitchell made appearances at Rabbitohs training this week but did not train fully with the rest of the NRL squad.
Retired Bulldogs champion James Graham questioned whether Mitchell would have learnt anything if the NRL allowed him to serve his ban on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs had already ruled Mitchell out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury.
"Are there actually any learnings from this? Is that level of hurt still there? Does he feel like he's missed a game, or does he feel like he's got through a loophole to play," Graham said on Triple M.
"You might get a small victory in terms of we get the player back in round one, but you don't get that same level of learning.
"So be careful what you wish for here South Sydney and Latrell – how much do you actually learn and think I'm going to grow and move on from this."
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