Monday Buzz: South Sydney Rabbitohs players to reject Clive Churchill Medal

Future South Sydney players are set to boycott one of the most prestigious awards in rugby league following the backlash to criticism a club legend’s son.

Latrell Mitchell NRL PHOTOS

Judging by their recent form, the South Sydney Rabbitohs are not going to win the premiership any time soon.

But next time they do, the NRL will be faced with the most awkward situation.

Whoever wins man-of-the-match will be reluctant to accept the Clive Churchill Medal from the club legend’s son, Rod Churchill, in light of his extraordinary criticism of Latrell Mitchell over the weekend.

Reluctant is probably too soft a word in this case.

A point-blank refusal is actually more likely.

For those who may have missed it, Churchill described the South Sydney superstar as a “myth” a “cancer” on the club, an “embarrassment” and “overrated” in the most astonishing public attack on a player that I can recall.

An angry South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly will speak to NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo this week about this issue.

Churchill’s criticism of Mitchell – both publicly and in the private text message to Souths chairman Nick Pappas – has infuriated players, coaches and officials.

Sam Burgess receives the Clive Churchill Medal from Joyce Churchill. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Like all of us he’s entitled to an opinion but some feel he has gone over the top.

It prompted V’landys to speak on Sunday to support Mitchell.

“People are entitled to their views but at the end of the day we’re talking about a human being,” he said.

“I think it’s about time people backed off. Enough is enough. Leave the guy alone.

“He does a lot of great things behind the scenes that people don’t see.

“From my experiences with him he’s a very good person.

“He’s high profile - and I understand that - but he is still a human being. He’s a good father and husband.

“He’s such a great role model for Indigenous kids. They want to be Latrell Mitchell. It gives them hope in life.”

Solly privately fears the criticism could have an effect on Mitchell future in the NRL.

That he will be prematurely driven out of the sport to retire for a quiet life on his farm, despite being under contract until 2027.

The head of the RLPA Clint Newton reached out to Solly over the weekend over the comments.

Rod Churchill.

Latrell Mitchell.

“There’s a level of responsibility expected from someone who has the honour of handing out the award,” Newton said.

“To understand that your words matter. The comments were not a fair reflection of Latrell and disrespectful to a guy who continues to stand tall on a number of matters, not just in rugby league.

“His words were unnecessary and do nothing for our game.”

Over the weekend we also spoke to Mitchell’s manager and confidant, boxing promotor Matt Rose.

Highly emotional, he unloaded on your columnist for writing the story and printing the quotes.

Not the source of the story or not Sam Burgess, who he knows has been more responsible behind the scenes than anyone else for what Mitchell has been subjected to in recent days.

In defence of Churchill, while disagreeing in what he said, at least he did something that others haven’t been prepared to do, and that’s put his name to his quotes.

At least he had the balls to do it.

Unlike others who have been sniping all week from behind the scenes.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: South Sydney Rabbitohs players to reject Clive Churchill Medal