Mitchell to return early from ban; Fuimaono, Trindall, Pele suspended

South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell will return from suspension in Round 2 against Melbourne after a successful appeal to NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew for All Stars to be included in his ban.

Mitchell was suspended for six matches late last season for a tackle that left Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu with facial fractures and had not been due to play again until the Round 3 clash with the Roosters.

Mitchell was also ineligible for the February 12 All Stars clash, in which he is a central figure for the Indigenous team in recent seasons.

However, the Rabbitohs successfully argued in a submission to Bellew that All Stars should be afforded similar standing to other representative fixtures, such as Origins and Tests.

Given that Mitchell would have been a certain selection for the Indigenous team, it was agreed that All Stars should count towards his suspension and he will now miss just the opening Telstra Premiership round clash with Brisbane.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra forward Tyrell Fuimaono has taken the early guilty plea and will miss five matches for the tackle which resulted in Parramatta winger Haze Dunster suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Fuimaono risked a seven-match ban if he fought the charge at the judiciary and lost. The charge was Fuimaono's fifth in the past two years.

Judiciary charges Pre-Season Trials Round 1 Sunday.pdf

Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall has been suspended for two matches for a careless high tackle on Penrith rookie Thomas Jenkins while fellow Shark Franklin Pele pleaded guilty to a shoulder charge and will miss one game.

Dragons winger Tautau Moga, Bulldogs prop Luke Thompson and Rabbitoh Tallis Duncan were the other players charged during the opening weekend of pre-season trials.