Anthony Mundine, Josh Addo-Carr offer Latrell Mitchell support in wake of NRL’s leaked photo probe

Latrell Mitchell has been spotted for the first time since being photographed with a white substance, as a number of high-profile sportspeople come out in support of the Souths superstar.

Anthony Mundine has offered to reach out to fellow Indigenous ambassador Latrell Mitchell in the wake of a leaked photograph saga, as the South Sydney superstar was spotted for the first time on Tuesday.

The NRL integrity unit is probing the details around the image, which began circulating on Monday, involving one of the biggest names in the game.

In the photo, the South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback is lent over a table that appears to have a white substance on it.

The leaked image that appears to show NRL Star Latrell Mitchell leaning over a table with a white substance on it.

Mundine and Mitchell have not seen eye-to-eye this year, with the pair involved in a very public slanging match over their differing views on the Ezra Mam-Spencer Leniu racism saga that overshadowed the NRL’s season-opening double header in Las Vegas.

Despite their fallout, Mundine has offered to reach out to Mitchell.

“It’s unfortunate that there are these allegations,” Mundine said.

“If he needs any help, I’m here for him. I wish nothing but love for my brother.”

Close friend and Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr also threw his support behind the Rabbitohs superstar when asked about the incident on Tuesday morning.

Exclusive: Latrell Mitchell pictured looking outside a window at his house. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Anthony Mundine has offered to reach out to Mitchell. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

“He’s my brother boy, I love him but I can’t say too much about it. It’s a hard one,” said Addo-Carr, who Mitchell accidentally knocked out while making a cover tackle earlier in the season.

The photo is believed to have been taken in the NSW central west town of Dubbo over the weekend, where Mitchell had travelled to conduct coaching clinics.

The NRL will continue making inquiries into the photograph on Tuesday. However, as part of its new arrangement with the Rugby League Players’ Association on player disciplinary matters, it will not comment publicly until an outcome has been achieved.

Mitchell’s adviser, boxing promoter Matt Rose, flew back into Sydney on Tuesday morning following a trip to Las Vegas.

Mitchell collides with close friend Josh Addo-Carr during their Round 4 clash. Picture: NRL Images

The pair embrace after the incident Picture: NRL Images

Rose has seen the image and spoke briefly to Mitchell on Monday, but would not divulge details of their conversation.

Some individuals obtained the image on Monday and unsuccessfully tried selling it to news outlets in a bid to leverage a financial gain from the situation.

Mundine’s olive branch follows their heated public stoush over the Mam-Leniu incident, where the champion former boxer and rugby league star declared it “wasn’t racist”, then told Mitchell he had “underperformed” as a player and hadn’t earnt the right to comment on racism in rugby league.

In a video posted on social media, Mundine claimed that because Mam was of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and Leniu was Samoan, it did not amount to racism.

That sparked a swift rebuke from Mitchell, who came out immediately in support of Mam.

“This what our people get told to do and continue to get told. ‘Be quiet fall in line’,” Mitchell said in an Instagram post referencing Mundine’s video.

“Anyone seen this story and knows any sense of culture that this shit isn’t the same thing.

“Absolute bulls..t. I don’t agree with this and if you do, Do better.”

However, Mundine leapt to Mitchell’s defence in May when the Souths star was the target of booing by opposition fans. And has done the same this week in the wake of the leaked photo scandal.

Originally published as Anthony Mundine, Josh Addo-Carr offer Latrell Mitchell support in wake of NRL’s leaked photo probe