Latrell drops racism bomb

Infuriated Blues force NRL to wipe parts of Mitchell interview on website

RUGBY LEAGUE: Another weekend and another round of Latrell Mitchell controversy.

This time, NRL boss Todd Greenberg had to personally intervene to delete explosive quotes from Mitchell’s wideranging interview on nrl.com, where the star centre raised racial discrimination concerns around the NSW State of Origin team.

In the original version of the interview published on Saturday afternoon, Mitchell declared: “NSW went real funny on us because we don’t sing the anthem,” referring to himself, Cody Walker and Josh AddoCarr.

A furious NSW Rugby League chief executive Dave Trodden immediately contacted Greenberg and threatened to take legal action. The offending quote was quickly removed from the website.

The Blues’ management believe the comment is defamatory and have sought legal advice.

Mitchell’s club, the Sydney Roosters, is also concerned that the star centre has broken the club’s media protocols by doing the interview without seeking its approval.

Trodden was also upset about Mitchell’s comments that Blues coach Brad Fittler had not contacted Michell to explain his axing from the NSW team after the Blues lost the opening game of the series.

“I didn’t get told what I needed to work on,” Mitchell said. “He (Fittler) said he was going to ring me and he still hasn’t rang me.”

Trodden denied this was the case and attacked the NRL for not checking the facts.

“This has been addressed previously,” Trodden said.

“We’re particularly disappointed that the interview on the NRL website contained a number of really serious inaccuracies with suggestions Freddy (Fittler) had made no attempt to contact Latrell.

“This to my knowledge is totally false. He has made many attempts to contact Latrell and has picked him in our State of Origin squad for Thursday and Friday of next week.

“We’re also disappointed the governing body of the game would allow publication of an interview like this one with damaging running commentary about our organisation that is seriously inaccurate.

“We were given no opportunity to respond to the comments or correct the inaccuracies.”

The Blues have asked Fittler not to comment on the story in order not to inflame the situation any further.

The inflammatory remarks aside, the interview with Mitchell was a very good one.

We actually found out that deep down he does not want to leave the Sydney Roosters.

“The Roosters is my home,” he said. “I’ve been there since I was 15 and got an opportunity to play and build myself into the player I am today.

“I just want to see what else is out there. I’m entitled to.”

Sadly it’s too late. The Roosters have spent the $800,000 of the cap they had originally put aside for Mitchell.

He and his close friend, boxing promoter Matt Rose, are expected to meet Roosters boss Nick Politis in the next few days.

Although not angry at Mitchell, Politis was hurt that during the finals the centre went to the home of the Canterbury Bulldogs Leagues Club chairman George Coorey to talk about future opportunities.

Politis will not slam the door shut on Mitchell when they meet. He hopes Latrell may even return to the club one day.