Latrell Mitchell’s explosive Origin anthem allegations were deleted. This is why

The NRL was forced to delete comments made by Latrell Mitchell from its own website after the NSWRL threatened legal action.

Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Cody Walker during the national anthem.

Explosive allegations that NSW “went real funny” on Latrell Mitchell and two fellow indigenous stars over their decision not to sing the national anthem were deleted from a story after the NSWRL intervened.

The 22-year-old made the claim in a wide-ranging interview with NRL.com published over the weekend.

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“NSW went real funny on us because we don’t sing the anthem,” Mitchell said referring to himself, Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr.

But according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, NSWRL boss Dave Trodden contacted NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and threatened legal action unless the accusation was removed. It is understood they viewed the comments as defamatory.

The quote was subsequently removed from the article.

What remained, however, was criticism from Mitchell over Blues coach Brad Fittler’s handling of his axing from the squad after a poor performance in Game One.

“I didn’t get told what I needed to work on. I know I played a bad game but it’s like I can’t play good every game,” Mitchell told NRL.com.

“I haven’t had a yarn with him (Fittler), he said he was going to ring me and he still hasn’t rang me … it’s like well, I haven’t got nothing off him.

Latrell Mitchell is in the headlines again.

Rothfield reports that the Blues have directed Fittler not to respond to the comments.

“This has been addressed previously,” Trodden told the Telegraph.

“We’re particularly disappointed that the interview on the NRL ­website contained a number of really serious inaccuracies with suggestions Freddy had made no attempt to contact Latrell.

“This to my knowledge is totally false. He has made many attempts to contact Latrell and has picked him in our State of Origin squad for ­Thursday and Friday of next week.”

Mitchell also used the interview to address increasing speculation over his playing future describing the Roosters’ decision to pull their contract offer last month as a “kick in the teeth.”

Mitchell’s playing future remains one of the hottest rugby league topics of the summer after informing the Roosters of his intention to explore the open market.

But the Roosters’ centre revealed being surprised when he went home to Taree on the NSW mid-north coast to learn the club had withdrawn from negotiations on an extension.

Mitchell plans on confronting coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis about the developments once he returns from his off-season break.

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell’s explosive Origin anthem allegations were deleted. This is why