Latrell Mitchell hit with breach notice over white substance photo
Latrell Mitchell to front Rabbitohs board after NRL issues one-match ban over photo
Latrell Mitchell will be asked to front the South Sydney board – risking a significant club sanction – after the NRL issued a breach notice to its highest-profile player for being pictured leaning over a motel room table near a white substance.
Just hours after the NRL wrapped up an investigation into the image, which was shopped to media outlets earlier this week, it emerged the Rabbitohs will summons Mitchell to front representatives of high-powered owners Russell Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes to explain his actions.
It will be the latest blow to Mitchell, who already tested the patience of South Sydney powerbrokers earlier this year when warned over an expletive-laden live radio interview and needless on-field suspension for elbowing Warriors star Shaun Johnson.
The NRL took little time to finish its probe into how a photo of Mitchell was being disseminated earlier this week. Mitchell spent the weekend conducting a football clinic and doing promotional activities in Dubbo.
Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement with the Rugby League Players Association, the NRL does not announce proposed sanctions when it issues a breach notice. But Mitchell will be suspended for one match, according to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
Mitchell has five days to respond.
Latrell Mitchell appearing to lean over a table with a white substance on it. There is no suggestion the substance is an illicit drug.
“The particulars of the breach notice are that Mitchell featured in imagery, which emerged publicly on 12 August 2024, which depicted him acting in a manner which has brought the game into disrepute,” an NRL statement said.
There is no suggestion the white substance was an illicit drug.
It’s expected Mitchell will also be fined a similar amount to Cowboys star Valentine Holmes, who was hit with a $25,000 penalty and suspended for one match after an image of him holding a clear bag with a white substance in it was momentarily posted to social media last year.
He was also asked to undertake appropriate remediation and attend education and training as advised by the NRL.
There is no suggestion the bag Holmes was holding contained anything illegal.
The image of Mitchell has caused arguments between Dubbo locals over who was responsible for leaking it, with a woman pictured in the foreground, Amy Brown, posting on Facebook there was “no shame” in “having a bit of fun” when she goes out.
She denied responsibility for the photo being shared.
Loading
But the NRL’s handling of the case is unlikely to be the end of Mitchell’s woes, with the Rabbitohs to demand an explanation and have Mitchell front them in person.
The fullback hasn’t played for the Rabbitohs since breaking his foot at the start of last month, just a week after he starred for NSW in their game two State of Origin demolition of Queensland. It was the first time Mitchell had played for the Blues in three years.
The injury ruled him out of NSW’s series deciding win in Brisbane and, with the Rabbitohs out of finals contention, he is unlikely to feature again this season before supercoach Wayne Bennett returns to the club.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Loading
