Pinched nerve in back forces Latrell Mitchell out of Indigenous Round

South Sydney’s Indigenous Round celebrations have been dealt a hammer blow after Latrell Mitchell was ruled out of Saturday night’s clash against Parramatta due to a pinched nerve in his back.

Coach Wayne Bennett confirmed Mitchell suffered the injury against the Gold Coast last Sunday, his first game back from a quad injury that had kept him out since round 18.

It has been another frustrating season for the game’s biggest Indigenous star, which also included a hamstring injury in the pre-season.

“Latrell won’t play, he pinched a nerve in his back and he’s not mobile enough – hopefully he’s back next week,” Bennett said on Friday.

“He did it in the game on the weekend. He played last week when it was Indigenous Round as well. We’re disappointed he’s not playing.

“He’s hardly played any football in the last three months. You can be sad about it, you can be anything you like about it, the bottom line is he’s not playing, he’s not fit to play.”

Mitchell has been limited to 11 games this season, but fellow senior leader Cody Walker returns from a calf injury against the Eels.

Bennett said Walker would come off the bench, and he was a welcome addition to a squad that had been hit hard by injuries, suspensions and concussions all season.

Alex Johnston needs three tries to draw level with Ken Irvine’s try-scoring record, and four to set a new mark.

Irvine played with North Sydney before he finished his in the early 1970s with Manly, and Bennett, 75, said he never actually got to watch Irvine play.

“I wasn’t a Sydney guy, I remember as a kid I’d listen to the radio all the time, and I loved listening to the football from Sydney, I heard them call him on the radio,” Bennett said.

“He was a magnificent finisher, that was the era of those type of wingers – they didn’t have to do hit-ups like they do today, and catch as many high balls as they do today.

“He was obviously a great athlete and a great finisher, and played in a team that didn’t win a grand final. To achieve what he did was quite remarkable.”

Souths defeated the Titans after nine straight losses, play St George Illawarra next week, followed by the bye, then the Sydney Roosters in the final round.

Bayleigh Bentley-Hape will start at left centre for Mitchell, with Tyrone Munro coming on to the right wing.

Souths have no less than 11 Indigenous players in their squad – by far the highest number in the NRL – with the group posing for a photo on Sydney Harbour last week. One Japanese tourist was intrigued by the cameras and asked for a selfie with Mitchell.

As part of Souths’ Indigenous Round celebrations, Olympic legend Cathy Freeman will ring the club’s Legacy Bell before kick-off, and the squad will be led on to the field by Greg Inglis. Inglis and Freeman were photographed in the sheds after the club’s 2014 title triumph.

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