Latrell’s Mitchell’s white-powder punishment revealed

NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell has been punished for the white-substance scandal, but there could well be a twist in the tail over his ban.

Latrell Mitchell has learnt his fate. Picture: NRL Photos

The NRL has hit Latrell Mitchell with a one-game ban and a $20,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute, while the Rabbitohs have also come down hard on their star player with a $100,000 fine, with $80,000 of that suspended.

The sanctions come after the superstar fullback was photographed standing over a white substance at a hotel while doing a coaching clinic in Dubbo earlier this month.

Mitchell met with the Souths board on Tuesday and then posted a message on social media to apologise for his actions, with punishments landing 50 minutes after interim South Sydney coach Ben Hornby had finished his media conference.

On top of the NRL punishments, Mitchell has a requirement to undertake appropriate remediation and attend such education and training as advised by the NRL wellbeing and education department.

A supplied image that alleges to show NRL Star Latrell Mitchell with a white powder substance. Picture: Supplied

The Rabbitohs have also asked him to commit to a wellbeing program, with Mitchell to pay the rest of his fine if he breaches his playing contract again.

“This has been a very challenging time for everyone at South Sydney, including staff and management, coaches, players, members, supporters, and Latrell himself,” Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said.

“Most importantly, it has been very difficult for his family.

“This is not lost on Latrell.

“He has shown great remorse and given us a solid commitment to improve himself, make better decisions and to work towards becoming the best dad he can be to his children, the best partner he can be to Brielle and the player he can be for the Rabbitohs.

“He has taken full responsibility for his decisions and his actions.

“I, along with the board and management, are confident that this will be a turning point for Latrell and that he will make better decisions in the future. We are committed to helping him do that.”

Just when Mitchell serves that ban remains up in the air after Hornby revealed the superstar fullback is an “outside chance” of playing next week just a fortnight after he said he was done for the season.

Mitchell hasn’t played since round 18 due to a serious foot injury that kept him out of the State of Origin series decider, but he left the moon boot last week and was spotted at the club’s captain’s run on Thursday morning where he stood behind the dead-ball line and kicked the Steeden around while his teammates trained.

Mitchell’s punishment means more time on the sidelines. Picture: NRL Photos

A return against his former club the Roosters next Friday night would be a dramatic turn of events.

There was plenty of debate as to when he should serve that ban given he was expected to miss the rest of the season through injury anyway, but the latest update could complicate things if he’s cleared to return next week.

“There is an outside chance he could play if we needed him,” Hornby said.

“That’s what’s driving him. He’s just got to tick the boxes, and hopefully next week it goes our way.

“He needs to show that he’s in good enough condition to play – that’s the main thing. First-up we need to get him up and running and see how he looks.”

The NRL and Souths will have to address when he serves the ban, with Hornby defending the club’s handling of the situation.

“We’re doing the best we can, that’s what we’re doing,” he said.

“Everyone’s going to have an opinion, and everyone’s entitled to have an opinion. For us, we do it our way and that’s the way we do it.

“It’s going to drag out because Latrell’s a big headline and that’s what this is about. It is what it is.

“I think it’s just got to run its course, that’s how it works. You go before a board, the NRL has got to make a decision, so I’ve got no drama there.”

Originally published as Latrell’s Mitchell’s white-powder punishment revealed