‘I hope they never come back here’: Nathan Cleary calls for life ban for the fan who racially abused Latrell Mitchell

Players are calling on the NRL to come down hard on so-called fans after Latrell Mitchell was the victim of vile racial abuse.

Latrell Mitchell was the victim of shocking racial abuse on Thursday in a sign society still has a long way to go. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

A shattered Damien Cook can’t comprehend how racism remains so prevalent in 2023 after teammate Latrell Mitchell was the victim of vile abuse during Thursday’s loss to Penrith.

Cook was in the tunnel at halftime when a young fan reportedly wearing the jersey of another NRL club allegedly hurled a vulgar racial slur at the Indigenous superstar as he was coming from the field.

Latrell Mitchell took the time to interact with fans after Thursday’s game in Penrith an hour after he was the victim of vile racial abuse. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It’s the second time in five years this has happened in a match in Penrith between the two sides after South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis was the victim of racial abuse in 2018 at the same venue.

The NRL condemned the incident in a statement on Thursday night, while the Panthers say they’ll work with the integrity unit to find the culprit.

“It’s 2023 and this is still happening. It’s an absolute joke,” Cook told the NCA NewsWire.

“I was right behind and I saw Latrell’s reaction and that he was upset at what happened – as you would be. I just know that the club out here – Penrith – will do the right thing and sort it out. They’ll find out who it was and they’ll sort it out.

“It doesn’t matter how old the person was, he should know better.

“I haven’t checked on him right after the game, but this isn’t just about Latrell. It’s about racism and why this is still happening in 2023. It’s an absolute joke.

“I feel bad that he’s had to go through this during a game and I have no doubt that Penrith will sort this out.”

Damien Cook was sickened by what was allegedly said in the tunnel and has backed the NRL to find the alleged culprit and ban them from the game. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou called for life bans to be handed out to so-called supporters during a powerful post-game address – a sentiment echoed by Panthers star Nathan Cleary.

“They’re not fans if they’re saying that stuff,” Cleary said.

“I don’t care who it’s against – they’re not fans. True fans of the game would want to build their players up. There is no place for that stuff and they should never be allowed in the NRL.”

Cleary was shocked when he heard what was allegedly said and called on everyone in the game and the wider community to pull their heads in.

“Excuse my French, but that’s just sh*t,” he said.

“I don’t know why people still do that stuff. Latrell is such a pivotal person in our game and he brings fans in to watch. I always enjoy watching him, I always enjoy coming up against him and I enjoy playing with him.

“For some reason, people in this world want to always be negative. Stuff like that is just ridiculous.

“No matter where it is, there is no point in a game where you should feel like you have the right to say that to a player – whether that’s an opposing player, whether you don’t like them, whether they’re on your team or if they’re not playing well.

“You can criticise their game, but in terms of racial or anything on those lines, that’s totally crossing the line. I hope they never come back here.”

Nathan Cleary has heard stories from Mitchell about the abuse he’s copped in the past. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images

Cleary has played against Mitchell in big games but they’ve also lined up alongside each other for the Blues and won the World Cup just a few months ago.

The champion halfback said he’d spoken with Mitchell about the abuse he’d copped in the past, which hasn’t been limited to what we see on the field.

“He’s explained to the boys at times a little bit. Half the time it’s there for everyone to see. It’s either online or it’s at games. It’s just disgusting. I honestly feel for him,” he said.

“He’s such a big persona in the game and people just want to drag you down when you’re successful and doing well. The racial stuff is ridiculous.”