Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell on goal to give back after footy ahead of trip to Moree with teammate Cody Walker

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker do not have a magic wand that can fix the state’s youth crime crisis. If they did, their trip to Moree on Wednesday would probably be a one-off.

South Sydney stars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell will be in Moree on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson

EXCLUSIVE:

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker do not have a magic wand that can fix the state’s youth crime crisis.

If they did, their trip to Moree on Wednesday would probably be a one-off.

The reality, however, is that the South Sydney stars are likely going to visit a number of towns right across regional NSW this year, giving up precious downtime in between NRL matches to try and inspire a generation of kids who joyride in stolen cars just as often as kicking a footy.

Mitchell and Walker are not being forced to visit Moree, but rather volunteered to be a part of Operation Pathfinder - an initiative that will today be announced by Premier Chris Minns, ARL Chairman Peter V’landys, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and senior NSW Police, with the aim of helping youth in the embattled town.

“The reason for it is not to go out there and wave a magic wand, but more just to go out there and show people that we care, and that there are people that care,” Walker said.

The NSW Police riot squad was required to be called into Moree recently.

“It’s going to come with a lot of hard work, we get that, but also we want to help, I think that’s a really important part of it.

“We’ve seen our fair share of what happens in country towns, but not at the scale of what’s going on these days.

“Obviously the drug use is fairly big now and easier to access. It’s crazy at the rate that it’s rising as well which is quite scary, so for us just to be able to go out there and show our faces… and just show that we care to the community.”

Putting his hand up to help the nation’s Indigenous youth was not a hard decision for Mitchell.

In fact, he believes it is likely what he will do for a job when he one day retires from first grade.

Latrell Mitchell told The Telegraph he wants to “better [other] lives” after his NRL career. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Despite still being at the peak of his on-field powers, Mitchell told The Daily Telegraph he is already considering following in the footsteps of his father - a former Aboriginal education officer - when he hangs up his football boots.

He thinks it could be the thing that provides him the closest buzz and fulfilment to what he gets from playing in the NRL.

“Yeah… I could start something on my own I think,” the Rabbitohs fullback said.

“I think we’re privileged to be in the position that we’re in. We know what we come from... and I suppose now, you know, I’ve got an opportunity to better my kids life, but also, better [other] lives after footy.

“My dad was an Aboriginal education officer for 20 years... having that role model in my life was a big thing, so for kids to sort of latch on to someone that they trust or love and respect, I think that’s a big thing for kids growing up.”

It was over coffee less than a month ago that Mitchell and Walker heard from NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos about the reality of what is happening in regional towns.

It is, as Walker describes it, “pretty full on”.

abbitohs Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell at Heffron Park in Maroubra. Picture: Richard Dobson

Statistics show youths at times responsible for more than 70 per cent of crimes in these areas.

Then there are the stories of locals in towns like Moree, Dubbo and Tamworth, who tell how they have noticed an increase in violence with their own eyes.

Where once someone would quietly break in and steal your TV, now they see young kids armed with weapons demanding residents hand over cash and car keys.

The two football stars are under no illusions that even with the backing of the state government, NRL and NSW Police, there is no easy fix.

“It’s about what we put into it and what else the community put in as well,” Mitchell said.

“If they are going to put in just as much as we are, I think we’re going to get results. That is what they have to understand as well, it’s us, it’s them, it’s the police, meeting in the middle.”

Walker remembers a visit by former first grade player John Simon when he was a boy growing up in Casino.

He hopes he and Mitchell can inspire kids to not only play the sport, but to more importantly “dream big” and “make good choices”.

“I’d like our kids to dream big,” Walker said.

“We’re both proof, in our stories, that we’ve grown up in small country areas, but we’ve gone out of our comfort zone to get what we want and what we want out of our careers and out of our lives.

“You know, whether it’s education, whether it’s employment, whether it’s sporting, it doesn’t necessarily need to be being NRL players... it could be trying to live a sustainable life with it, where they’re happy, comfortable and healthy.

“I dare imagine that these kids that are doing this sort of stuff are not living a healthy lifestyle, and they might have some bad choices.

“I tell my own kids all the time, you make bad choices you get consequences, you make good choices, you get rewards.”

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