Mitchell boos a ‘sign of respect’: Burgess
TOM Burgess says fans booing Latrell Mitchell is a sign of respect of how talented the South Sydney fullback is, with Roosters players calling on supporters to lay off their former teammate on Friday night.
Mitchell was incessantly booed by Roosters fans when the sides played at Allianz Stadium in the final round of the 2022 season, but he got his revenge a week later with a brilliant display to knock his former club out of the finals.
The Rabbitohs star was allegedly racially abused last week at BlueBet Stadium at halftime.
While it’s impossible to stop supporters from booing – especially when Mitchell has such a strong history with the Roosters – it’s hoped that fans treat him with respect as the NRL celebrates Multicultural Round.
“Latrell is a great player who’s a leader on and off the field. He’s loved by fans,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“Obviously, Souths fans love him, but the truth is, he’s the kind of player every fan wants in their team, so he’s always going to get a reaction when he comes up against his former club. That’s part of sport.”
While passion and tribalism are parts of the game, Roosters playmaker Luke Keary wants fans to lay off Mitchell on Friday night.
“We don’t want to see that in our game,” Keary replied when asked if fans will boo.
“This is a tough period for Latrell. He’s been a part of our family here at the Roosters.
We all do love him. Hopefully, the game gets around him.
“He’s going through a tough period so you don’t want to see our Roosters fans or any other fans go out and constantly lay the boot into him, especially in this situation.”
Mitchell had the last laugh in that finals match, leading the two-time premiership winner to rename Allianz Stadium “Trellianz”.
The reception he gets on Friday night will be raucous from both sides, but teammate Burgess says that being booed by opposition fans can be seen as a sign of respect.
“Fans jeering is part of the game,” he said. “If you’re getting booed, then it means you’re doing the right thing.”