Brent Read reporting that Souths are going to insist that Latrell Mitchell serves his suspension for the "white powder" photo immediately despite him being out injured for the remainder of the year.
the reports were that the NRL would order any suspension to be served at the start of next season, because he is already out injured.
The players union have backed Souths and Mitchell saying that ordering the suspensiion to be served in 2025 would violate the NRL's own rules ... I'm not sure where the were when Staggs had to serve his suspension after he was cleared to return from injury a few years ago.
RLPA CEO, Clint Newton said:
“The NRL Rules are clear that a suspension takes effect as soon as it is determined,” Newton said.
“It is not conditional on a player being available to take the field.”
The NRL rule Newton refers to says:
“If the chief operating officer or the chief executive officer determines to either cancel or suspend the registration of a person ….. that cancellation or suspension will take effect immediately and, thereafter, the chief operating officer or the chief executive officer shall. as soon as practicable notify the person of that fact.”