‘Outrageous’: Rabbitohs fuming over Ben Fordham’s report on Latrell Mitchell

A war has erupted between Ben Fordham and the Rabbitohs over an “outrageous” report about superstar Latrell Mitchell.

South Sydney has furiously hit back at Ben Fordham over an “outrageous” story reported on the talk-back radio king’s show.

A war has erupted between the NRL club and Fordham over an accusation made against Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell.

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Despite being “warned” by Mitchell’s manager not to air the story, Fordham on Tuesday morning broadcast comments from a listener which accused the NSW State of Origin player of telling children to “go away” while he attended a western Sydney football gala day on Saturday.

The 26-year-old attended the Mark Geyer Trophy event held at Parker Street Reserve in Penrith along with members of his family, watching on as the monster carnival for children under the age of eight was played by 40 local teams.

One talk-back caller on the 2GB breakfast show said Mitchell brushed his grandchildren, aged four and eight, when they asked for a photo with him.

Fordham said he hopes Mitchell can “make it up” to the children involved.

“We’ve been warned not to share this story with you by someone representing the player involved. But we’re going to do it anyway,” he said.

Fordham went on to say: “When I heard this I couldn’t believe it.

“I hope he’s able to make up for it in some way. I appreciate that he’s a busy bloke and a lot of people want photos, but it only takes five seconds to take a photograph.”

The caller said on the show it is likely he will stop supporting the club, which he has been a fan of for 54 years.

Ben Fordham and Latrell Mitchell.

He said his grandchildren were told by Mitchell to “go away” because it was his day off and he would not be posing for photographs.

“To hear that on Saturday morning was so disappointing and I’m pretty sure I’m no longer a Rabbitohs supporter,” the man said.

“They were both devastated. Especially the four-year-old, he ran back to my young daughter and said Latrell told them to go away.

“I can understand what he’s doing. He is a superstar. He is a human being. A normal person on the street, if you got asked by a four-year-old on the street, ‘Can I take your photo’, you’re not going to tell them to go away.”

He said his four-year-old grandchild no longer saw Mitchell as his idol.

“The children look up to Latrell Mitchell,” he said.

“Even on Sunday morning we were playing a bit of football at the front of my yard and my four-year-old is always Latrell Mitchell, but then on Sunday he realised he can’t be Latrell Mitchell anymore, he had to pick another name. So he chose Nathan Cleary.”

Mitchell’s manager Matt Rose, from the No Limit agency, sent a reply to the accusations before the segment aired on radio.

“Latrell Mitchell drove out to attend a gala day on Saturday and he was there with his family for several hours,” Rose said, according to 2GB.

Latrell Mitchell signing autographs at a rodeo event at Brewarrina. Picture supplied

“Whilst at the gala day, Latrell signed autographs and shook hands with junior rugby league players. But there were no photos taken on the day. It is not uncommon for him to say no to photos.

“If this is raised in the media it will only push Latrell further away and it may lead him to not attending these events in future.

“If you take on Latrell, you’ll have a legal letter on your doorstep.”

The Rabbitohs are privately furious about the report and have described it as “bulls***”.

Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly on Tuesday told news.com.au Mitchell had engaged with hundreds of kids during the carnival.

“In my time at the Rabbitohs, I’ve never seen a player stop for more photos, autographs or interactions with fans than Latrell Mitchell,” he said.

Latrell Mitchell walks into the dressing room after the Rabbitohs’ clash with the Dragons in Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

“On this occasion, it is his off-season, he goes out to a huge carnival for junior rugby league in the Penrith area with over 40 junior teams involved, he attends with his family. He signs autographs and engages with hundreds of kids. But given the amount of people there – and the fact he’s with his family, he would prefer not to have photographs. I don’t think that’s an unreasonable request of a player in that situation.

“At the end of the day he’s gone out to attend a junior rugby league carnival, engage with any number of kids and fans on a day off when he doesn’t have to with his own family and he’s being criticised for not stopping for photos.

“It’s actually an outrageous criticism. He is a player, who in my time at the club, gives more back to the rugby league community than almost any other.

“What more do people expect of him?”

The NRL announced last week Mitchell is one of the finalists for the prestigious Ken Stephen Medal, which recognises the work players commit to community projects away from the football field.

He received his nomination because of the work he does through the Souths Cares program, ongoing action in Indigenous communities, campaigning against online bullying and his position as a mental health ambassador of the Goanna Academy.