Penrith Panthers NRL star Mitch Kenny issued breach notice over social media post

A Boxing Day social media post has come back to bite a Penrith premiership star, after the NRL issued Mitch Kenny a breach notice for bringing the game into disrepute. SEE THE POST

Mitch Kenny before the 2023 grand final. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mitch Kenny is at risk of missing the World Club Challenge after the Penrith hooker was issued with a breach notice alleging he brought his club and the game into disrepute over a social media post from Boxing Day last year.

Kenny, a fixture in Penrith’s premiership-winning outfit last year, was sanctioned following an investigation by the NRL integrity unit into an image that appeared on his Instagram stories with the caption: “couple Boxing Day lines have got me in trouble”.

At the time, Kenny blamed the viral post on “trolls”.

Just hours after the image first appeared on his Instagram, Kenny posted a story with the captain: “ “Happy New Year guys. Enjoy and ignore trolls who grabbed my phone. Happy New Year.”

The social media post in question.

Mitch Kenny in action for Penrith. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It’s believed Kenny told club officials the post was a joke gone wrong when asked to explain the image.

Penrith are due to fly out to England next Friday to take on UK Super League Champions Wigan in the World Club Challenge on February 25. A ban from the NRL would rub Kenny out of the clash against the Warriors.

Kenny has until February 15 to respond to the breach notice, which is 24 hours before the Panthers are set to travel to Manchester where the side will be based ahead of their clash with the Warriors.

Coach Ivan Cleary will take a squad to the UK and name the 17 players to take on Wigan while in England.

The NRL were made aware of the matter at the time and have now acted against the Panthers rake.

Kenny is now at risk of missing the World Club Challenge. Picture: NRL Imagery

“The National Rugby League (NRL) today issued Penrith Panthers player Mitch Kenny with a breach notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct following an NRL Integrity Unit investigation into a social media post in December, 2023,” an NRL statement said.

“It is alleged Kenny engaged in conduct which has brought the game and his Club into disrepute.”

In a statement, the Panthers confirmed Kenny had been issued a breach notice, but said they would not be making any further comment on the matter.

In October last year, North Queensland star Valentine Holmes was whacked with a $25,000 fine and rubbed out of the Kangaroos’ first Test of the Pacific Championships after posting a photo to his social media of him holding a bag of white powder.

The day following the post, Holmes claimed the image was a prank gone wrong but the NRL ruled the post had publicly associated the game with illegal drugs and found his conduct had “ brought the game and his club into disrepute.”

Originally published as Penrith Panthers NRL star Mitch Kenny issued breach notice over social media post