South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell and Parramatta Eels recruit Josh Addo-Carr to make early NRL returns after serving suspension in All Stars game

Latrell Mitchell will be free to play in the season opener and Josh Addo-Carr will make his Parramatta debut against former club Canterbury after the superstars were allowed to serve part of their suspensions in the All Stars game.

The NRL informed all 17 teams of its decision to allow Mitchell and Addo-Carr to have the Indigenous-Maori All Stars game count towards their respective sentences. The news is a huge boost for the Eels and Rabbitohs, who have been sweating on the availability of the two stars.

Mitchell copped a one-game ban for bringing the game into disrepute following the publication of a photo of him standing over a white substance in a Dubbo hotel room. There was controversy over whether it would be served in the final game of the 2024 regular season given there was debate over whether Mitchell was fit to play at the time.

The superstar fullback will now take his place under returning coach Wayne Bennett for his side’s season opener against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.

Addo-Carr’s anticipated Parramatta debut will have an edge to it given it will be against the Bulldogs. The premiership-winning winger was hit with a four-match ban after returning a positive result to cocaine at a roadside police drugs test in September. He has already served one game, Canterbury’s finals clash against Manly, and was subsequently sacked by Canterbury. Addo-Carr has maintained he didn’t knowingly take drugs.

Indigenous All Stars coach Ronald Griffiths said that while he wanted the star duo to be at his disposal, he would fully support any decision that would expedite their return to the NRL.

Speaking to this masthead late last year, Addo-Carr said he held no ill will towards the Bulldogs.

“The club is in good hands with Cam, Gus and Critter [coach Cameron Ciraldo, general manager of football Phil Gould and captain Stephen Crichton], three wonderful leaders leading the club in the right direction,” Addo-Carr said at the time.