Abdo defends NRL stance on Mitchell
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has rejected the suggestion the game’s governing body is too afraid to sanction South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell over an expletive-laden interview last week.
Mitchell gave a post-match interview after the Rabbitohs’ loss to Brisbane where he swore five times in 30 seconds raising the ire of league fans.
Mitchell has not been sanctioned over the radio interview, leading to calls that the NRL is walking on eggshells when it comes to the highprofile star.
“I think that’s a bold statement to make,” Abdo said. “We have proven in the past when a player breaches the rules if we believe it warrants a breach action we take it. Equally, we are accused of being too harsh on players,” Abdo said.
“Everyone will have their view. I’m really comfortable with where this sits and I’m comfortable with the action we are taking at the moment.”
Fans and media commentators have been calling for Mitchell to be sanctioned but Abdo suggested the “regrettable” incident has been blown out of proportion.
“From time to time to get language used that is regretis table is quite isolated from my point of view. I don’t think this is an endemic problem and blown up into something bigger than it necessarily is,” Abdo said.
“Having said all that, we have clear standards and we’ll maintain those standards.”
It was reported that Abdo would be seeking an urgent interview with Mitchell over the incident but the CEO said he yet to reach out to him. “I think that is a conversation I would like to have with him personally,” Abdo said.
“It’s not one that’s to be had in the public. So that’s a conversation I’ll have with him when the time is right. We’ll cover a range of topics. I will always catch up with a player or any official in the game from time to time on a range of topics. We have a number of high-profile players and Latrell is one of them. He’s a role model, he’s a leader and if there is an opportunity to work with him on a range of issues confronting the game. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t doing that.”