The Kiwi hitman is facing near-insurmountable odds - but it won’t stop Melbourne launching a Hail Mary at the NRL judiciary.
The South Sydney skipper will ask for the annual Prime Minister’s XIII game to be included as part of his ban so he can play for Australia at the start of the Pacific Championships.
When Mark Nawaqanitawase runs onto Wentworth Park on Sunday,there will be about 75,000 fewer fans to greet him than in his last game of football.
Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton is not expected to appear on Tuesday night to testify that he was bitten by Kyle Flanagan. Senior league figures want that to change.
The four teams bound for the United States are all but confirmed with Melbourne making a call on the Las Vegas venture.
Graham Annesley has urged his match officials to use discretion when making contentious calls after finally giving his verdict on the most scrutinised refereeing decision of the year.
One of the most spiteful games of the season has resulted in Tigers halfback Aidan Sezer copping a monster ban among six charges and thousands of dollars in fines.
The Sea Eagles have been dealt a double blow with Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu facing two-match bans,while Eels winger Maika Sivo is up for a $3000 fine.
The NRL match review committee has hit Mitchell hard over an ugly elbow on Shaun Johnson.
Less than a year after Penrith’s Jarome Luai escaped a ban for pushing a touch judge,Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes copped a heavier punishment for a referee incident as he tried to save a try.
The NRL’s own judiciary counsel initially called the Roosters forward by the wrong name and said he played for Tonga. He’s been capped for Samoa seven times.