‘You’re gibbering’: Explosive Latrell Mitchell debate erupts on NRL 360

The NRL has come under heavy fire in the middle of a heated debate in the wake of Latrell Mitchell’s expletive-laden interview.

Latrell debates erupts on NRL 360

Tensions boiled on Monday night as journalists and NRL greats butted heads over Latrell Mitchell’s expletive-laden interview.

The NRL 360 desk came close to being turned into a makeshift Octagon as discussion erupted over the South Sydney Rabbitohs star’s offensive language.

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According to News Corp, the NRL and South Sydney will not be taking any action and no breach of contract notice will be sent.

The lack of action drew widespread backlash from some NRL commentators and became the bone of contention at the desk between host Braith Anasta and The Australian journalist Brent Read.

“If it was another player in our game, Luai, would the NRL be sanctioning a meeting or would he be sanctioning him?” Anasta asked.

Co-host Paul Kent added: “There’s multiple players who if they came out and had such disregard for what’s accepted, Ricky Stuart said s*** in a press conference and he got a fine.”

Read weighed in and said: “There’s more to it than, I think after the week he had and the racism issues, I think maybe Andrew Abdo has some concerns for his mental health.

“Do you have an issue with the CEO going to meet one of the biggest stars in the game?”

“I have an issue with the lack of reply from the NRL, and I think they’re terrified,” Kent said.

But Anasta pressed Read for a reply regarding whether Mitchell should have been hit with a breach notice and a fine.

Braith and Brent went at it.

It was then that the two went back and forth in a heated discussion.

Read said: “Yeah he probably should have been fined.”

Anasta hit back: “So what are you on about Ready? You’re coming at us saying should he have been … you’re saying he should have been.”

“So what are you talking about then? You’re gibbering.”

Read responded: “You’re having a go at me?”

Anasta again shot back: “There’s a bit of double standards here I believe … if you’re saying, if it was another player do you think they would have been sanctioned?”

Read said: “No you asked me would Abdo have gone and seen them … I don’t know mate.”

Kent then called on the NRL Integrity Unit to get involved in the situation, having previously investigated Brandon Smith for a similar incident.

The Roosters hooker went on the YKTR podcast in 2021 and swore several times throughout a 56-minute interview.

Latrell said "I don't care if I'm swearing" during his expletive laden interview. Photo: Triple M

“Where’s the Integrity Unit? You want to talk about the integrity of the game, which is partly public perception … they’ve sat back with a nothing to see here attitude,” Kent said.

“The Integrity Unit is meant to act outside of the CEO.”

“I’m sick of the excuses, every player gets interviewed after the games, and all of us at training and in our lives swear,” Anasta added.

“But we know we are being watched by kids, fans, it is our responsibility to not swear and do the right thing by the game … he swore five times and said he wasn’t apologising.

“But there’s been nothing done about it … I understand the swearing, we all do it accidentally but apologise.”

Kent also echoed Anasta’s opinion and questioned why Mitchell claimed he wouldn’t apologise for using the foul language post-match.

“The question is why, it wasn’t the slip of a tongue, footballers swear in their every day to day conversations, but every footballer who goes and gets interviewed refrains from that,”

“Because they understand how important it is to get the right message out there. That’s the public face you put on.

“Latrell not only said it multiple times, but he said he wasn’t going to apologise.”

Latrell was unapologetic after his outburst. Picture: NRL Photos

Triple M ultimately cut its post-match interview with Mitchell short because of the offensive language he used.

“It’s alright mate, honestly f**k … It was s**t,” Mitchell began.

“In the first bit, just a hard game f**k, we showed what we were about. Honestly, they’re big boys, they’re competitors. No wonder why they come runner up last year so f**k, they’re building on that.

“I don’t care if I’m swearing boys, honestly.”

When talking about his try scoring feat, Mitchell added: “But I’m very happy, scored 100 tries so that’s something to celebrate tonight. Yeah, everyone doesn’t give a f**k but anyways.”