NRL 2024: Latrell Mitchell breaks silence on white substance scandal after meeting South Sydney board

While Latrell Mitchell insisted he had a good meeting with Rabbitohs powerbrokers, he clammed up when he was questioned over what he was doing in the photo that emerged of him in a Dubbo hotel room a fortnight ago.

Latrell Mitchell leaves Rabbitohs HQ at the Heffron Centre, Maroubra. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Latrell Mitchell casually strolled into a meeting with South Sydney officials on Tuesday morning at the club’s Heffron Park headquarters wearing a polo shirt and a trucker’s cap screaming “Beers & Bulls”.

He emerged three hours later, having acknowledged the error of his ways in talks with Souths bosses, but providing little clarity about the white substance at the centre of the latest saga involving one of the game’s genuine superstars.

Mitchell insisted he had a good meeting with Rabbitohs powerbrokers, including representatives of co-owners Russell Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

He said he was happy to leave any further sanctions with them and he wanted to get home to his family – he went straight from Souths to a Nikita Tszyu press conference in the city.

He clammed up though when he was questioned over what he was doing in a Dubbo hotel room a fortnight ago, when he was photographed standing over a white substance, having attended a women’s coaching clinic earlier in the day.

“To be honest I don’t really know, we will just leave it there aye,” Mitchell said.

The Rabbitohs won’t be leaving it there. Nor will the NRL. NRL boss Andrew Abdo has already notified Mitchell of plans to suspend him for one game and hand him a $20,000 fine, sanctions that the Rabbitohs star has accepted.

They are yet to be officially ratified as the NRL and Souths liaise on the sanctions that are expected to be handed down by the club.

Latrell Mitchell after fronting the Rabbitohs board on Tuesday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

While Mitchell was understood to be remorseful and apologetic in his meeting with Souths officials on Tuesday morning, the club is still expected to hand him a significant fine as well as a final warning that he needs to toe the line or risk having his multimillion-dollar contract torn up.

Under the terms of their contract with Mitchell, the Rabbitohs are within their rights to fine him as much as $250,000 – about one quarter of his $1 million a year deal.

The final penalty won’t be that high but fed-up Souths officials will weigh in with a financial penalty reflective of their disappointment with their highest-profile player.

Crowe, Packer and Cannon-Brookes were not believed to be present at Heffron Park on Tuesday but their dismay was no doubt relayed by their representatives on the board, among them Swedish film producer Mikael Borglund – the executive producer of the recent John Farnham documentary – and The Water diviner producer Keith Rodger.

Latrell Mitchell spotted laughing with Nikita Tszyu at the Main Event Boxing weigh-in.

Borglund and Rodger represent Crowe. Cannon-Brookes is represented by Kelly Morton, the managing director of Skye Capital. James Packer’s representative on the board is Sam McKay, one of his long-time key lieutenants

Mitchell, having briefly spoken to the media outside Souths headquarters, later acknowledged on social media that he needed to improve.

“Sometimes in life you make poor decisions and I have accepted that I as a man/family man/club man, I want to do better,” Mitchell said.

“I can take this time now to move forward, look ahead and continue on being the best version of myself.

“Love to all that has supported me through this. Very grateful.”

Latrell Mitchell’s Instagram post.

Mitchell had woken on Tuesday morning to be greeted by cameras outside his home in Sydney. No doubt sniffing an opportunity to promote his own brand, Mitchell arrived at Souths sporting a cap from his signature Winmarra brand of clothing.

It is understood he addressed the Souths board for about an hour before he continued his rehabilitation from a foot injury that was expected to end his season – interim coach Ben Hornby recently indicated he had played his last game, although there are suggestions now that he may be declared fit to play again in round 27.

If so, it would allow him to serve his one game ban from the NRL this season. It would also bring an inglorious end to the season for Mitchell, who has managed only 11 games for Souths due to injury and suspension.

He has shown flashes of his ability, most notably when he starred for NSW in the second game of the State of Origin series. But the sense is that his career is at a crossroads, something he hinted at when he was asked how challenging the past fortnight had been.

“You could imagine mate,” he shot back.

MITCHELL SET TO ESCAPE BAN

Latrell Mitchell has arrived at Rabbitohs headquarters to front the South Sydney board as club powerbrokers look to draw the curtain on the white substance scandal by giving their biggest name the chance to show he is committed to turning around his career.

Mitchell, who is already facing a one-game ban and fine from the NRL after being photographed standing over a white substance while at a women’s coaching clinic in Dubbo, arrived on Tuesday morning to be grilled by Rabbitohs powerbrokers over the latest incident.

The Rabbitohs are expected to hand their star fullback a significant fine and a warning that he is on his last chance with the club.

Mitchell, one of the biggest names in rugby league, has been sidelined in recent weeks after suffering a Lisfranc injury in his foot.

He was expected to miss the remainder of the season, although there have been suggestions over the past week that he may be declared fit to return, which would allow him to serve his ban from the NRL before the end of the rugby league year.

Latrell Mitchell will front the South Sydney board on Tuesday. Picture: NRL Imagery

Souths also have the option to hand Mitchell a suspension, although it is understood they are reluctant to do so given that would also impact his teammates and incoming coach Wayne Bennett.

Instead, it is believed he will receive a hefty fine from the club – they are able to fine him as much as $250,000 under the terms of his contact.

While the fine will be nowhere near that amount, the final figure is expected to be contingent on how remorseful Mitchell is when he addresses the board to explain his actions.

The Rabbitohs have one of the most powerful ownership groups in the game – Russell Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes own a majority share in the club with the remainder in the hands of the members.

Club powerbrokers are known to be unimpressed with the latest incident involving Mitchell, who only managed 11 games for the club this season before being struck down by injury.

The photograph in question. Picture: Supplied

NRL officials are also at the end of their tether with Mitchell, hence their decision to hand him a one-match ban and $20,000 fine for the incident in Dubbo.

It is understood Mitchell has accepted the sanctions from head office but they are yet to be confirmed by the NRL. Nor have the NRL confirmed when Mitchell is expected to serve his ban – if he is out for the remainder of the year, they are expected to push for him to be sidelined for the opening game of next season.

South Sydney and the players union insist any ban should be served immediately even though Mitchell is injured.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Latrell Mitchell breaks silence on white substance scandal after meeting South Sydney board