Latrell Mitchell is set to pay an even heftier price than missing the final series for his antics against the Roosters last Friday night.
The star fullback’s brain snap has all but certainly cost him the chance of being named one of the Rabbitohs’ co-captains next season.
The Rabbitohs are set to appoint dual captains to replace the departing Adam Reynolds in 2022 with four contenders – Damien Cook, Cam Murray, Cody Walker… and Mitchell.
But club officials are now set to put the red felt pen through Mitchell’s name after his night of shame up north.
It wasn’t even so much Latrell’s dreadful tackle that put Rooster Joey Manu in hospital – it was his antics afterwards that showed that the talented fullback isn’t mature enough to handle the pressure of being a team leader.
Mitchell lost his cool when he came back onto the field after his stint in the sin bin, showing petulance and anger, and his display will cost him a job he would have cherished.
Veteran winger to stay with Parramatta in 2022
Blake Ferguson’s two-try performance in the Eels’ mighty upset over Melbourne may well have saved the veteran winger’s career.
The 31-year-old flanker has had a mixed season, at one stage being dropped, and had yet to be offered a deal for 2022.
But Fergy is a proven big-game player – as he showed against the Storm – and his manager Sam Ayoub is hoping to strike a new arrangement soon.
I’ve spoken to Fergy this week and while other clubs may be an option, he prefers to stay with the Eels.
“I will let Sam do the talking for me,” he said. “He’s never disappointed me in contract years.”
Bulldogs cap bites
Versatile Broncos forward John Asiata’s move to the Bulldogs is in danger of falling through.
Both parties have all but agreed to terms but the problem is the Bulldogs’ disastrous salary cap mess.
The club basically doesn’t have a cent to spare in the salary cap unless it moves players on.
If bad boy back-rower Adam Elliott is sent packing, that may open the door for Asiata – but nothing has happened there yet.
“I have spoken to John and told him not to wait for us if he finds somewhere else to play,” Bulldogs boss Phil Gould told me.
Dragons sign boom rookie
The nephew of former Dragons Kyle and Chase Stanley has signed with the Big Red V for next season.
Cyrus Stanley-Traill, a promising 16-year-old front-rower from the Bulldogs system, has agreed to a three-year deal with the Dragons.
Big and strong, Stanley-Traill has a Fijian dad and Samoan mum and has been a standout at Endeavour Sports High School and in junior rep teams.
The teenager was in hot demand before deciding to follow in his two uncles’ footsteps at the Dragons.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!