Mitchell’s sore ribs won’t harm Blues bid after Broncos bash-up

By half-time it was 18-0 and by full-time Mitchell had been in the thick of anything and everything good, bad and in between.

Jordan Riki’s heavy second-half hit on Murray off the ball - which coach Kevin Walters thought he was lucky not to have been sent off for - earned both he and Mitchell a sin-bin stint, the latter for “completely escalating the situation” by running 30 metres to give Riki what-for.

Almost an hour earlier, Mitchell started his night with a lengthy break down the left edge and tapped once more into the effort areas he’s so often accused of glossing over.

When Souths couldn’t capitalise on the attacking set, Mitchell was huffing, puffing and fuming at fullback for the entirety of the next set, then went about ensuring any more chances weren’t squandered.

By full-time Mitchell had a try, try-assist, 14 runs for 166 metres with five tackle busts, seven kicks which caused Brisbane’s outside backs plenty of grief and four errors in a 70-minute performance that dripped with effort and commitment.

“I like it when he does all the effort plays like everyone does, Latrell knows that and he’s been doing that for a couple of weeks now,” Hornby said.

“I thought the case [for Mitchell’s Origin recall] was compelling three weeks ago when I said it. Has it got more compelling, I’m not sure?”

Murray too did his own Blues chances no harm in “blowing the cobwebs out” after five weeks out, the Rabbitohs skipper saying “I’ll never say no to a NSW jumper if I’m ready so I’ll just have to see how I go.”

Even with Richie Kennar sin-binned for an ugly high tackle on Selwyn Cobbo, the Rabbitohs didn’t concede points when down to 12 men and defended with desperation rarely seen this season, a root cause of their cellar-dwelling status.

With Mitchell, Cook, Murray, Cody Walker and Keaon Koloamatangi on the field and on song, they won’t stay there much longer. Jai Arrow clutching his wrist in pursuit of late Deine Mariner try was the Rabbitohs only concern for the evening.

By the end of the weekend Souths will be three wins adrift of whoever is sitting in eighth spot, though Hornby insisted a finals rally was not being discussed inside the Rabbitohs walls, only winning every game they play.

“We’ve seen, we’ve got good players, so if we train well and play well, there’s no reason we can’t win games,” Hornby said.

For the Broncos, their third loss on the trot will have them dropping to at least ninth come Sunday night, and their slide down the ladder is only gaining momentum.

Coach Kevin Walters will “have a discussion” with Riki around discipline given he will come under scrutiny from the Match Review Committee, before Brisbane reassemble after their upcoming bye.

“Our discipline has left us the last three weeks and we are paying a price for it,” Walters said.

“I’m frustrated, I can’t imagine how the players are, but we’re not right at the moment.”