Cooper Cronk says Latrell Mitchell will learn from Old Bar pub incident

Latrell Mitchell might be able to do more things on the field than he could four years ago, but off the field the opposite is a true. Something the Roosters star is still learning, says mentor Cooper Cronk.

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Latrell Mitchell might be able to do more things on the field than he could four years ago, but off the field it’s a completely different story.

In fact he can get away with far less.

That’s the verdict from Cooper Cronk, the sage Sydney Roosters mentor who believes his superstar centre will have learnt a valuable lesson from his run-in with police last weekend in his home town on the mid-north coast.

Mitchell was fined for failing to leave a pub at Old Bar where he allegedly argued with security staff, although, he was not involved in any physical altercation and the Roosters and the NRL have both decided not to take any action.

Mitchell must come to terms with life in the public eye. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Cronk said that although Mitchell’s indiscretion would appear on the minor end of the scale for rugby league off-field incidents, the 21-year-old must understand that the profile and privilege of his position brings certain expectations, even away from the Sydney bubble.

“I there are varying degrees of trouble in our game of late. And without knowing the full details I’m assuming it’s on the very lower scale,” Cronk said.

“But it just goes to show that we’re in a very privileged position. And Latrell knows that.

“The amount of community work and work he does for his people in Taree and the indigenous people in general, these things can get overshadowed (with incidents like this).

“Latrell from four years ago probably can’t do the same things now that he did then. He’ll learn that but as long as Latrell and this footy club have the right culture in place I’m sure good people grow from good surroundings.”

Cronk has faith his young teammate will learn from this. Image: Brett Costello

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has already spoken to Mitchell, and Cronk indicated that the players or Mitchell himself may also cover it off as a group before Saturday night’s clash against Cronulla.

“I think some of those things that happen, whether he sits down with the senior players or Latrell addresses the issue himself, I think sometimes that (will) just stay in house,” he said.

Mitchell is being readied for a mouth-watering match-up against Cronulla rookie Bronson Xerri when they face-off at Shark Park.

Youngster Xerri showed he has speed to burn last week against Parramatta and was anointed by Parramatta star Clinton Gutherson as a future Australian representative.

Pangai‘s big hit won’t put Cronk off his game. Image: Phil Hillyard

Meanwhile, Cronk has declared last week’s brutal late shot from Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai Jnr will not impact his confidence taking the ball to the line.

In fact, Cronk has vowed to run the ball even further in a bid to show opposition defenders trying to take him down that he knows no fear.

“From the outside looking in, that’s exactly what the opposition want you to do,” said Cronk.

“They try to aggressively put pressure on you so you play early and therefore the defensive line can fold off the play.

“I know exactly what they’re trying to do so if anything I’m going to go further in the line next time.

“My job is to create space for one-on-ones, three on twos on the outside and I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’ll continue to do it for as long as I’m playing footy.”

Cronk said that there had been an over-reaction to the Pangai shot so widely condemned by ex-players’ like Andrew Johns — arguing that the decision to suspend him for two weeks would serve as the ultimate deterrent.

“I’m not jumping up and down here, because sometimes those hits are legal, fair and are part of the game. Sometimes they’re late and aggressive and high contact. The rules are in place. I don’t think we should be jumping at shadows because of one incident.”