South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett believes Latrell Mitchell didn’t get a fair trial at the NRL judiciary due to media commentary surrounding his actions.
The superstar fullback was handed a four-week ban for a high hit on David Nofoaluma against the Wests Tigers in Round 6.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bennett said he has never seen a player treated as unfairly as Mitchell and criticised the “inconsistent” match review committee.
“The game wasn’t stopped at any stage for them. No player was treated for an injury. Now this guy is doing four weeks and he has a $3000 fine. It’s so unfair,” Bennett said.
“They were made an issue at the end of the game by the media, which dragged the match review committee into it.
“People want to see these players and if they deserve suspension, I’m fine with that, but none of those three incidents deserved a suspension.
“We’re all accountable. I’m accountable. Players are accountable. Referees are. Why aren’t the match review committee?”
While Bennett passionately defended his player, The Daily Telegaph’s Michael Carayannis believes his comments were just trying to deflect heat off his star player.
“I think it’s a little bit over the top,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The only charge I would dispute is the leg kick on Luke Garner, but you can’t kick someone in the head.
“There are mitigating circumstances there because Garner was obviously holding Latrell.
“But when you look at the two grade-two offences that Paul Momirovski was found guilty of – Latrell’s was infinitely worse.
“So I think if anyone has the right to be filthy then it’s the Panthers.
“Latrell’s just a victim of circumstances, I guess multiple charges in one game and loading points and the like have added to it.
“I think Wayne’s just trying to deflect a little heat off his stars. We saw Cody Walker get suspended a couple of weeks ago and now Latrell this week.”
Listen to the full chat with Carayannis below.