Rabbitohs expecting no mercy from fans as they prepare to unleash Trell

South Sydney are expecting Sydney Roosters fans to show Latrell Mitchell no mercy,despite thealleged racial abuse he received at Penrith on Thursday night.

Mitchell wasbooed in the final round of the regular season against the Roosters,then again the following week in the elimination final,which was won by Souths,andfeatured no fewer than seven sin-binnings.

When asked about next Friday’s blockbuster and the reception Mitchell could expect,Roosters coach Trent Robinson said:“I expect there to be high energy in the stadium next week.

“I expect it to be played in the right manner,from both the crowd and the 26 players on the field.[Hopefully there is] respect all around,and let’s go.”

Souths prop Tom Burgess,who left James Tedesco and Angus Crichton with concussion in last year’s final,only to be ruled out himself following a head slam by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,said the ugly half-time scenes on Thursday at Penrith were disappointing - but it would do little to change the frosty welcome Mitchell could expect at “Trellianz” Stadium.

Souths have already started to subtly stir the pot,including a social media post about “Going Back Home” to play their Indigenous Round game at Allianz Stadium,even though the Roosters are the main tenants.

They also made sure they accommodated the Warriors on Friday by giving them access to Erskineville Oval for their captain’s run ahead of the New Zealanders own clash against the Roosters on Saturday.

Burgess was with Mitchell and heard the alleged racial abuse on Thursday night,and said as long as Roosters fans did not cross the line,Souths were fair game.

“We’re not worried about what their fans will do;it doesn’t worry Latrell,it doesn’t worry any of us,” Burgess said. “It’s part of the game. As long as they are respectful,they can boo all they want.

“I was next to him theother night and heard what was said. You don’t expect to hear things like that any more. Good on Latrell for calling it out. He’s been on both sides of this[rivalry]. He just wants to get out there and do his thing. He will be ready come 8pm Friday.”

Burgess was in the thick of the action last year and admitted to having some memory loss after being thumped by Waerea-Hargreaves.

“We knew that final was going to be a fiery one,” Burgess said. “There was a big build-up after we had played them the week before and at the same venue[the opening of the new Allianz Stadium]. There was always going to be a lot of feeling in the game.”

Burgess clipped Tedesco high,but avoided being sent to the sin bin,despite Roosters fans demanding a send-off from the referee.

“Teddy is a bit faster than me,and a bit smaller,he stepped under my arm and I caught him,” Burgess said. “I thought I got him around the shoulder. The ref paid it back a couple of plays later down field when he sent me to the bin for a hit on Matt Lodge,even thought I didn’t connect him on that occasion. We needed to be more controlled with our defence.”

Victor Radley was sin-binned twice,including punching Taane Milne,then raced in to shove Tevita Tatola who had given Egan Butcher a facial after an error. Tatola was also binned.

Crichton did not make it to half-time after Burgess ran over the top of him,before Burgess saw stars from the Waerea-Hargreaves whack.

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Burgess and Radley got to know each other well last year during England’s World Cup campaign,so much so they hit if off and,along with Elliott Whitehead,became known as the “Three Pigs”.

Radley loves pigs,and the trio were the only players with no family on the tour.

“I really like Victor as a bloke,he’s a good lad,his dad is from Yorkshire,and his brothers are good lads - but I won’t be liking him this week,” Burgess said.

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