Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell will miss the next month of football after the NRL judiciary found him guilty of dangerous contact against Wests Tigers David Nofoaluma in last weekend's 18-14 win.
In a big night for the NRL judiciary, Penrith's Paul Momirovski was earlier handed a three-game suspension for his dangerous contact on Broncos half Tom Dearden, while Victor Radley is free to play for the Roosters in Sunday's Anzac Day match against the Dragons after successfully having a careless high tackle charge downgraded.
Mitchell suspended for four games
Mitchell's failed bid to have his charge downgraded means the 23-year-old won't be eligible to play for South Sydney until the round 11 game against the Panthers on May 23.
He will miss the clash against the Titans this Friday, then the Raiders, Storm and Sharks games.
Losing a player like Mitchell would not just hurt South Sydney, it would hurt rugby league fans, according to the club's football manager Mark Ellison.
"The big thing is that the crowds aren't going to see him for four matches, which is sad for the game and unfortunate for him," Ellison said. "Anyway we'll move on.
"We're disappointed for the result tonight.
"I don't think he's a dirty player. I think he was caught by circumstances in this incident and it was bad luck for him."
Mitchell placed on report for contact on Nofoaluma
The NSW Origin team is picked after round 11, giving Mitchell one more game to impress selectors and coach Brad Fittler.
Maybe he's already done that with his five tries in six games.
NRL prosecutor Peter McGrath said Mitchell's attempt to put Nofoaluma off his path to the try-line in the 32nd minute of last Saturday's match at ANZ Stadium fell into "the unusual category". But it still showed a high lack of care for the Wests Tigers winger.
"He turns his back so he's not attempting – at this point – to make a tackle as such," McGrath said.
"He pushes or throws his left arm in the direction of Nofoaluma, who is not off-balance from having kicked the ball, it's the impact of an elbow or forearm to his face."
Mitchell's lawyer Nick Ghabar disagreed, maintaining the Nofoaluma lost his footing as soon as he kicked the ball back inside.
"He would fallen anyway, with respect," Ghabar said.
"Mitchell had to make an immediate decision. He had to prop, turn, because if he continued on that path he was going to make heavy contact. He's trying to manage a situation that is quickly evolving to stop a try.
"Why does he turn? He wants some self-preservation; he's trying to avoid a collision. It was low-level, glancing contact," Ghabar said. "It was a bit more than a brush but it was not direct, frontal force.
"There was no flinging out of the arm."
Radley free to play
Radley successfully avoided a suspension and is free to play in Sunday's Anzac Day match against St George Illawarra after successfully having a careless high tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary.
The 23-year-old's tackle on Cameron Munster in the 20-4 loss to the Storm at AAMI Park last Friday earned him a grade two penalty, which could have seen him miss the next three games.
But instead Radley has been fined $1,900 for a grade one charge.
While NRL prosecutor Peter McGrath conceded that Radley was wrong-footed as he prepared to tackle Munster, he said he still threw out his left forearm and made direct contact with the Storm five-eighth's head.
Radley placed on report and sent to sin bin for high shot on Munster
"He hit him flush in the side of the head," McGrath said. "There is a significant risk of injury there.
"That's why it sits comfortably above the base penalty of a grade one (careless high tackle). A grade two is justified."
Roosters lawyer James McLeod said there was no swinging arm and no real force used by Radley.
"He's grabbing at him; he's off balance; he makes some glancing, incidental contact," McLeod said.
"He's admitted it was careless but it's at the lower end of the scale in being careless."
Momirovski cops three-match ban
Momirovski will miss the next three games after failing in his bid to have a dangerous contact charge downgraded.
The 24-year-old will miss upcoming matches against the Knights, Manly and Sharks for his tackle on Broncos half Tom Dearden in last Thursday's 20-12 win at Suncorp Stadium.
Momirovski will now not be eligible to play for the Panthers until Magic Round in Brisbane.
NRL prosecutor Peter McGrath said Momirovski used a swinging left arm into Dearden's head.
He said that while Momirovski was within his right to put pressure on the Broncos kicker, his "highly careless nature" led to "quite forceful contact" and warranted a higher grading.
Momirovski looking at suspension for high shot on Dearden
"In launching himself at speed he lost some control, heightening the risk of injury," McGrath said.
Momirovski's lawyer Nick Ghabar said the contact was marginally late at best, denying it was "highly careless".
"This is an attempt at wrapping tackle and not an arm being held out in a coathanger-style of tackle," Ghabar told the judiciary.
Momirovski was not present at NRL headquarters, appearing by video link from Penrith. He did not speak during proceedings or answer any questions.
Roosters forward Victor Radley and Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell will also appear at the judiciary tonight.
