Mitchell mulls appeal of fine for virus rules breach
LATRELL Mitchell has discussed appealing his $1000 fine for breaching COVID-19 health restrictions after fellow NRL superstar Nathan Cleary was cleared of any illegality despite Tik Tok-ing with five young women inside his Sydney home.
Friends of the 22-year-old have reportedly urged the South Sydney recruit to challenge his fine from NSW Police given that, like Cleary, he was on his own property when pictured breaching strict COVID-19 guidelines.
Mitchell made headlines this week after video emerged of both he and Melbourne flyer Josh Addo-carr enjoying a camping weekend with mates on the expansive working cattle farm he owns at Caffreys Flat, near Taree.
Apart from being fined $1000, the pair were each whacked with an additional NRL sanction of $50,000 (60 per cent suspended) and given one-match bans that were also suspended until the end of the season.
Cleary was fined $10,000 (60 per cent suspended) and received the same suspended one-match ban after images emerged of he and five girls inside the home he shares with fellow Panther Tyrone May.
On Wednesday, Nepean police revealed Cleary would not be fined for breaching social distancing laws given, as the occupier of the house, it was not him but his visitors who had broken the law.
As Mitchell is also alleged to have never left his own property, there have been discussions about him potentially appealing the $1000 sanction.
It is understood questions have also been asked about Mitchell getting the same NRL punishment as Addo-carr.
In images uploaded to Instagram, the Storm flyer was pictured firing shotguns, riding motorbikes and generally enjoying what he later described as a cultural weekend close friends and family.
Yet it was later revealed the NSW Origin winger had already been warned twice in 11 days for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Mitchell is said to have spent much of the past few weeks training in isolation and working on his property.
As a result of the weekend, both men were also charged with firearms offences and will now appear in Taree Local Court on August 4.
Cleary could still receive further punishment from League Central after failing to disclose the Tik Tok videos in his first interview. with