South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou didn’t know who Rod Churchill was after leaked text

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou had the perfect comeback when asked on Thursday about a leaked text message heavily critical of Latrell Mitchell.

Rabbitohs head coach Jason Demetriou says the comments critical of Latrell Mitchell are unfair. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou says he had to ask the people close to him who Rod Churchill was when an abusive text message attacking South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell was leaked to the media.

Churchill, whose father Clive is an NRL Immortal, was the centre of controversy last week when it emerged that he’d sent a message to Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas in which he called Mitchell a “cancer” on the club.

The hurtful comments have led to speculation that Rabbitohs players would not accept the Clive Churchill Medal on grand final night if Rod presented it, although he has since apologised and offered to stand down from the role.

“(My reaction) first of all was, ‘Who?’ I didn’t know who he was,” Demetriou said.

The message was reportedly sent all the way back in May when the Rabbitohs were flying high on the ladder before they suffered a shock loss to the Eels, which was followed by a calf injury to Mitchell that sidelined him for three months.

Churchill also questioned Mitchell’s efforts and accused him of putting the club second, if at all, in his list of priorities.

“When it’s alleged they were sent was in round 12, we were at 75 per cent (win rate) and joint top of the table,” Demetriou said of the remarks.

“Latrell was a huge part of that and then he missed the next three months.

“To throw those words at him are pretty disrespectful to him, his culture and most importantly our club.”

South Sydney players huddle during training on Thursday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The Rabbitohs have endured a horror fortnight in which club legend Sam Burgess has depart as assistant coach on the eve of the finals after it was reported that he’d accused Souths officials of giving Mitchell and Cody Walker preferential treatment.

They face the Roosters on Friday night and must win to secure their place in the top eight, but opposition coach Trent Robinson put aside the fierce rivalry to offer Demetriou some words of encouragement.

“I have some empathy for what’s happened,” he said.

“I don’t know their coach very well. I’ve said ‘hello’ a couple of times.

“It hasn‘t looked like (a situation) you want as a head coach. You’re a coach and you love your players and when that gets questioned, that’s tough.”

The chaotic build-up has the potential to blow things up, especially with Mitchell out suspended, but their coach hopes the controversy can actually bring them closer together when they finally return to Accor Stadium after months on the road because of the FIFA World Cup.

The Rabbitohs are slight favourites against a Roosters side missing the suspended Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as well as Joseph Manu, who hasn’t recovered from a hamstring strain.

There will also be an eye on what happened last year when there were seven sin bins in their chaotic elimination final, but Demetriou is backing his players to remain disciplined with so much on the line.

“I think it has obviously sharpened our resolve a little bit,” he said.

“We want to get out there and play tough and aggressive as we normally do. We don’t want to be giving away penalties or having blokes in the bin for high shots or anything like that.

“We’ve got to be disciplined with how we approach it.”