Brandon Smith questioned by police at airport before Souths’ victory over Titans

The NRL Integrity Unit has requested an explanation from South Sydney after star recruit Brandon Smith was stopped and spoken to by Queensland police when he arrived at Coolangatta airport before playing in Sunday’s nailbiting win over the Titans.

Smith played 58 minutes in the Rabbitohs’ 20-18 victory, just his second game in a year after suffering an ACL rupture, and then another knee injury after his high-profile mid-season move from the Roosters.

Smith’s return for the Rabbitohs, and his 150th NRL game, was tinged with drama though when he was met by police officers upon landing on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

The 29-year-old was singled out from the South Sydney travelling party by police officers, with Smith questioned at length before rejoining his teammates at the club’s Broadbeach Hotel on Saturday evening.

Queensland Police confirmed the interaction, saying in a media statement issued on Sunday that: “Queensland Police had cause to speak to a 29-year-old male at Coolangatta Airport. The male was later released without charge. Police have no further information to provide”.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly declined to comment on the matter. The NRL Integrity Unit has been alerted to the situation and is liaising with South Sydney officials.

Coach Wayne Bennett said Smith’s pre-game drama was “an issue we’re not going to talk about,” when asked in his post-match press conference.

Smith’s New Zealand-based agent Stan Martin could not be reached for comment on Sunday. There was no suggestion of Smith being stood down from the Gold Coast clash and he performed strongly in what looms as a crucial win for the club’s bid to avoid the first wooden spoon of Bennett’s NRL coaching career.

Former Rabbitohs and New Zealand hooker Issac Luke presented Smith with his milestone jersey in the lead-up to the clash.

The Titans worked with stadium staff to ensure Smith was not bounced by camera crews on his arrival with the side on the team bus hours before kick-off.

Mitchell stars on return as Souths hold out Titans

Latrell Mitchell returned from injury with pure genius to inspire a controversial 20-18 win over Gold Coast and lift his side off the bottom of the NRL ladder to end their nine-match losing streak.

The match had a dramatic ending with Souths forward Jai Arrow hitting Titans half Jayden Campbell high in the final minute in front of the posts with no penalty awarded.

Captaining the side from left centre Mitchell had a raft of sublime touches that turned the match in his first game in six weeks due to a quadriceps injury.

The battle for the wooden spoon is set to go down to the wire. The Rabbitohs, without 10 stars, moved to 18 points with their seventh win of the season, two points clear of the Titans.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett has not claimed the spoon in 37 years in the premiership. He got one in 1981 while coaching Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League.

Titans coach Des Hasler has not had that ignominy since entering the coaching ranks. Bennett has one advantage in avoiding his first spoon as the Rabbitohs still have a bye to come

Mitchell made an immediate impact with a slick catch and pass for winger Alex Johnston to score his 208th career try.

He then pulled off an incredible try saver when Campbell was about to put the ball down under the sticks before Mitchell smashed him and jolted the ball free.

The Titans would not be denied when winger Jaylan De Groot scored out wide and skipper Kieran Foran put barnstorming back-rower Beau Fermor over.

Rabbitohs winger Bayleigh Bentley-Hape sliced through to give the visitors a 14-12 lead at the break.

Mitchell genius gave Johnston his 209th try. He leapt high to snaffle a Jamie Humphreys bomb and followed that up with a freakish flick pass to put the dashing winger over.

Titans hooker Sam Verrills darted over from dummy-half in his 100th NRL match despite the protestations of Mitchell.

The Rabbitohs have won 10 straight matches against Titans, the first time they have done so against one club since 1967-1972 against Newtown.

The Titans lost prop Moeaki Fotuaika due to illness on match day. They faced further adversity when centre Brian Kelly was ruled out of the match with concussion and winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira left the field in the second half with a hamstring complaint. With AAP

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