South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett staunchly defended Latrell Mitchell following a controversial tackle that resulted in an eight-point strive for the Wests Tigers during their Round 3 clash on Saturday night. The incident occurred just before halftime, shifting momentum and contributing to a hard-fought 20-16 victory for the Rabbitohs in Gosford. The debate centers on whether Mitchell’s attempt to prevent a try constituted a high tackle, and whether the severity of the penalty – an eight-point try – was justified.
The incident saw Mitchell build contact with the face of Tigers teenager Heamasi Makasini as the latter scored. The Bunker ruled the contact a swinging arm to the head, triggering the rare eight-point play. Bennett, known for his laconic style, downplayed the severity of the tackle, arguing Mitchell was attempting to dislodge the ball. This NRL Premiership match was a closely contested affair, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of high tackles and their impact on game outcomes.
Speaking after the match, Bennett expressed his disagreement with the decision. “Latrell didn’t deliberately play at his head. He played at the ball. He tried to secure the ball and knock it out of his hands, so I thought it was harsh,” Bennett said, as reported by Fox Sports. He further compared the incident to a similar tackle on Rabbitohs player Jye Gray, which resulted in only a penalty. “Well, the same thing happened with Jye Gray, he got hit in the head and we got a penalty for that… Jye probably got hit harder than what Makasini did.”
The eight-point try gave the Tigers a 14-12 lead at halftime, after trailing 12-0. Adam Doueihi successfully converted both attempts at goal following the penalty. The NRL Match Review Committee subsequently fined Mitchell $1000 for a Grade 1 careless high tackle, while Api Koroisau received an $1800 fine for a dangerous contact charge on Jye Gray, according to Yahoo News Australia.
Bennett’s Displeasure Extends Beyond the Field
Bennett’s dissatisfaction wasn’t limited to the on-field decision. He openly admitted to being unimpressed with his team’s overall performance. “You haven’t got the message yet have you? I’m not pleased,” he stated bluntly. “Nothing pleased me. The only thing that pleased me was when Moala came off and gave me the chocolates around his neck.” This candid assessment underscores Bennett’s high expectations for his squad, despite securing the win.
Despite his criticism, Bennett praised the performance of Jye Gray, who made a crucial try-saving tackle. “It’s quite remarkable what he does and how he gets it done,” Bennett said. “He’s got confidence in himself and belief in himself. He knows he’s going to have bigger guys jumping on him, so he’s honed his technique to be able to handle that situation. He does it really well.”
Murray Acknowledges Areas for Improvement
Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray echoed Bennett’s sentiments regarding the team’s performance. “I don’t think it was a step forward,” Murray said. “Poor clinically from us, I think, the discipline wasn’t quite there.” He acknowledged the team’s need to improve their intensity in defense, but ultimately expressed satisfaction with securing the victory.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs now move to a 2-1 record for the 2026 NRL season. The Wests Tigers, after a strong start to the season, face questions following this loss and injuries to key players Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi, as noted by Fox Sports.
Looking ahead, the Rabbitohs will need to address the areas highlighted by Bennett and Murray to maintain their position in the competition. The focus will be on improving discipline and defensive intensity as they prepare for their next challenge. The Tigers, meanwhile, will need to navigate their injury concerns and rediscover the form that saw them achieve an early season win.
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