South Sydney star Cameron Murray has revealed the likely replacement for teammate Latrell Mitchell after the fullback’s shocking hit on Roosters centre Joseph Manu will see him serve a lengthy suspension.
Manu was clobbered by Mitchell with a vicious high shot on Friday night, and as a result he needed to go to hospital to receive medical treatment. The incident has all but rendered Mitchell’s season over, facing a minimum six-week and maximum nine-week ban.
Murray said for the Rabbitohs it’s business as usual with a ‘next man up’ mentality, meaning youngster Blake Taaffe is expected to step into Mitchell’s shoes.
“What’s done is done,” he told Nine’s Sunday NRL Footy Show.
“It’s a great opportunity for whoever comes in. Looks like it might be young Blake Taaffe.
“We always said at the start of the season if we go all the way it’ll be a squad effort and we’re going to have to rely on the squad .
“Having Latrell out we’re going to have to have other people step up into different roles.
“I’m really excited to see what Taffy can do for us.”
South Sydney have won five out of six games without Mitchell this year but they were not against top-six teams.
Peter Sterling agreed that Taaffe was a good choice to replace Mitchell.
“He was really good when he played there a number of weeks ago,” he said on the NRL Sunday Footy Show.
“I think when you’ve got Alex Johnston doing what he does, you don’t want to interfere with that.”
Fittler was sympathetic with Mitchell despite the damage he caused Manu with a fractured cheekbone.
“You’ve got to give it context,” he said on the panel.
“The thing about the tackle is its very unusual to be side-on in our game. He’s come across and he’s saved the try and sometimes to save the try you’ve got to come in pretty hard.
“After that, it’s all on Latrell – he’s hit him high and his mate is now in hospital and wont be able to play.
“But you’ve got to give it balance why the tackle happened, and the end of the day he was shielding the try-line and that’s how it ended up. It gives it context.”