No hard feelings: Frizell shrugs at Latrell’s elbow hit

Latrell Mitchell could be suspended for South Sydney’s must-win match against the Sydney Roosters after elbowing Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell in the head.

But the Knights forward is holding no grudges.

Tensions between Frizell and Mitchell threatened to boil over early in Newcastle’s 29-10 win on Sunday, and the situation came to a head in the final minutes of the game.

Mitchell led with his elbow as he came in to tackle Frizell, collecting the Knights second-rower high and sparking a melee between the sides.

The South Sydney fullback went on report and to the sin bin, so faces a nervous wait for Monday morning’s charge sheet from the match review committee.

“It’s just silly from Latrell,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said.

“He got his medicine, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

Given the Rabbitohs have a bye in round 26, any suspension would rule Mitchell out of the round-27 clash against the Roosters, a game Souths likely need to win to qualify for the finals.

A State of Origin and Australian teammate of Mitchell’s, Frizell shrugged the shot off.

“I’ve played plenty of footy with and against Latrell. There’s no hard feelings there,” Frizell said.

“I felt it come across my head, I wasn’t too sure what it was but he got me with an elbow.

“He didn’t get me flush so that was pretty lucky, but no hard feelings.”

The Knights neutralised Mitchell’s impact all afternoon, blocking him from attacking on the edges and pouncing on his errors with the football.

Frizell suggested the 26-year-old may have lashed out in frustration after a quiet afternoon.

“You try and frustrate people by limiting their opportunities, not giving him opportunity to play the footy that he wants to,” he said.

“It’s just footy and in the heat of the moment you can get a bit fiery.

“He’s a competitor and I’m a competitor.”

Demetriou was confident Blake Taaffe could deputise effectively at fullback if required.

Taaffe replaced Mitchell when he went down with a long-term calf injury earlier this season as well as on the run to the 2021 grand final, for which Mitchell was suspended.

“Blake Taaffe is doing a great job, he’s played some good footy for us this year,” Demetriou said.