By GEORGE CLARKE 

Latrell Mitchell will be rubbed out of the most crucial juncture of South Sydney’s season after accepting a suspension, heaping more pressure on under-fire coach Jason Demetriou.

Fullback Mitchell was placed on report twice in the Bunnies’ 34-4 loss to the Warriors on Saturday and was charged for using his elbow to fend off Shaun Johnson.

Rather than fight the grade-two dangerous-contact charge and risk further suspension, Mitchell has taken an early guilty plea and accepted a three-game ban.

He will sit out games against Cronulla, Melbourne and Penrith, with rookie Jye Gray expected to be handed the No.1 jersey in his absence.

Demetriou described Mitchell’s behaviour as “stupid” on Saturday and now faces the most testing period of his NRL coaching career without his most influential player.

The Souths coach is under increasing pressure after a 1-4 start, compounded by the side missing the finals in 2023 after leading the competition through the first 11 rounds.

Reece Walsh could be ready to face the Dolphins on Friday.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Broncos’ indigenous stars Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have both returned to training after recent injury scares.

Walsh has completed a full contact session at Brisbane training in a sign he is on track to return early from his facial fracture.

The Broncos No.1 was expected to miss four to six weeks when he sustained the injury against Penrith in round three.

Donning pink headgear, Walsh did everything with the team at today’s training to put himself in contention to play at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night against the Dolphins.

The Broncos held their breath when five-eighth Ezra Mam hobbled off midway through the session. He later told staff it was a cork.

“Ezra will be right. He will get himself ready to go,” Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs said.

“Reece has done everything right to be back in the team.”