Rugby league great Peter Sterling has slammed suggestion Victor Radley and Latrell Mitchell are liabilities for their clubs despite the pair’s history with suspensions.
Mitchell earlier this week accepted a six-week ban for a controversial high shot that left star Roosters Joey Many with severe facial fractures.
The South Sydney fullback’s latest suspension comes after having served a four-week ban earlier in the year for a grade-two dangerous contact charge on Tigers winger David Nofoaluma.
Meanwhile, Radley was hit with a five-game ban back in May before copping a three-week suspension for diving into the legs of Brisbane’s Albert Kelly on a field goal attempt last month.
Sterling said that while the duo may need to monitor certain aspects of their game, he can’t see any scenario where they will become a dilemma at the selection table.
“I don’t think they will ever be liabilities,” he told Wide World of Sports’ Sterlo’s Wrap.
“They need to change their ways to some degree… I said with Victor Radley at the time, he didn’t have to change his tackling style, he just had to lower the target.
“Latrell Mitchell with his aggression, he just needs to manage that better.
“With the talent they have, It’s a long way down the track before it becomes a situation where you say, ‘can we afford to have them in the club?’
“I think we are a long way away from that.”
Sterling was pressed by host Mat Thompson on whether Mitchell and Radley reminded him of the league greats Adrian Morley and Gareth Ellis, who both had issues with suspensions during their careers.
“They (Adrian Morley and Gareth Ellis) both had long careers,” Sterling replied.
“They played a long time at the clubs they were at.”
Pressed on whether Rabbitohs great Sam Burgess’ history with suspensions was similar, Sterling again didn’t budge.
“They’re getting to the point where they’ve got to address the reason why they are spending time on the sideline,” he added.
“But Sam Burgess, South Sydney were never going to get rid of him for what he offered. He helped win them a premiership.
“When you say they become too much of a problem for the club they play at, I don’t see that being the case.
“They just have to refine what is putting them over the line. For Latrell Mitchell, it’s the aggression.
“You want him to play with aggression, but you can’t have him fouling players.”
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