- Rabbitohs are losing patience with Latrell Mitchell
- Follows litany of incidents on and off the field in 2024
Troubled NRL star Latrell Mitchell could be fined as much as $250,000 by the Rabbitohs after his white powder photo in a Dubbo hotel room reportedly pushed furious club officials over the edge.
Mitchell, 27, also has until August 22 to respond to a breach notice in relation to an alleged breach of the NRL Code of Conduct following an Integrity Unit investigation into the matter.
The likely outcome if Mitchell accepts the breach is a one-game ban – to be served in round one of 2025 – and a fine of around $20,000 for bringing the game into disrepute.
South Sydney will then hand down their own sanctions – and they are tipped to be fierce.
Mitchell is on a contract of roughly $1million a season – and he may lose up to a quarter of that if fed-up officials punish him severely, according to News Corp.
He is expected to be a handed a final warning and will see his contract revised with a number of strict behavioural clauses he must adhere to.
It follows a season to forget for Mitchell, who has only featured in 11 games for the Rabbitohs due to injury and suspension.
Premiership heavyweights in the eyes of many experts before a ball was kicked, the Bunnies will miss the NRL top eight again after coach Jason Demetriou was sacked in April.
Troubled NRL star Latrell Mitchell could be fined as much as $250,000 by the Rabbitohs after his white powder photo reportedly pushed the furious club over the edge. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the powder was an illicit drug
Mitchell, 27, has until Thursday to respond to a breach notice from the NRL
Wayne Bennett will return as South Sydney coach in 2025 and has vowed to take superstar Latrell Mitchell (pictured together in 2020) under his wing
Mitchell has at times been a magnet for controversy – he was suspended for three matches following a late elbow on Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson and then engaged in a war of words with Anthony Mundine which dragged on for weeks following the Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam racism saga.
Throw in his expletive-laden post game Triple M interview followed by his public disagreement with NRL 360 host Braith Anasta at a Sydney restaurant – and it understandable that club officials have had enough.
‘Trell Mit’ did help the NSW Blues win the Origin series with a commanding performance in game two at the MCG – only to then get injured against the Eels in an incident that saw him ruled out for the rest of the season.
The return of Wayne Bennett to the club in 2025 as head coach could go a long way to ensuring Mitchell won’t be sacked.
They share a close bond and Bennett is looking forward to again working with the Indigenous role model.
‘I will be there for him and I hope I can give them [South Sydney] the help that he needs,’ Bennett said recently.
‘I have responsibilities here [at the Dolphins]. He is in good hands and he is a good person. I have a lot of time for Latrell.
‘South Sydney will handle the matter. They are a great club and they will get it right with Latrell.’