The drama surrounding the Rabbitohs has continued with Latrell Mitchell’s advisor Matt Rose contacting the NRL over concerns about the “personal attacks” against the fullback.
Rose raised the issue with NRL boss Andrew Abdo and said he has concerns about Mitchell’s welfare after the Souths star was slammed by the son of a South Sydney icon.
Rabbitohs legend Clive Churchill’s son Rod launched a scathing attack on Mitchell and called him an “imposter” and a “cancer” at the club in leaked text messages revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald.
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“It’s fair game when someone has an opinion on people playing football, but it’s the personal attacks by certain individuals that needs to be called out and removed from the game,” Rose told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“It happens too regularly. When we’re talking about the issues that people face on mental health and we advocate on how important they are.
“Then in the same breath we throw all these kids under the bus if they don’t get something right or live up to someone’s standards. It’s unfair.”
Following the Rabbitohs’ 36-16 loss to the Parramatta Eels during the NRL’s Indigenous Round in May, Churchill sent a text message, which has now been leaked to the media, to Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas in which he slammed the superstar fullback.
“Where was the human headline Mitchell tonight Nicholas? Missing again, this was his big game apparently? Your club will not win another comp for another 40 years if this imposter remains at Souths,” Churchill wrote in the text.
“He is a complete myth who has the Aboriginal cause paramount and South Sydney second, if at all. I hope you and family are well. Nothing was done and now this cancer that is Mitchell has ruined the club.”
The Rabbitohs’ season went into damage control last week when club legend and assistant coach Sam Burgess made a shock decision to immediately quit the club following an ugly fallout with head coach Jason Demetriou.
Demetriou was forced to front the media to deny allegations he was too soft on star players Mitchell and Cody Walker, with Burgess understood to have raised concerns with Demetriou about the special treatment given to Mitchell and Walker.
The week from hell continued for the Rabbitohs when Churchill launched an incredible attack on Mitchell over the weekend.
“I don’t think he has delivered as a fullback at all,” Churchill told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Souths have not won a competition in his time, and they’ve had the team to do it. In my view, he has not put in 100 per cent effort. The way he has been treated has had a negative effect on the whole club.
“In my view, Mitchell has been the catalyst for this whole implosion. The whole situation has backfired. ‘Gus’ (Phil) Gould came out and said a few things about him (Mitchell) not delivering. He was proved right.”
With Souths having the bye, Mitchell was given the weekend off as he attended an Indigenous cultural camp with children in rural NSW.
The 26-year-old took to social media to silence his critics.
“Can’t hear the noise from up here,” Mitchell wrote on Instagram on Sunday night, with a photo of him sitting by himself.
Churchill is scheduled to present the man of the match award named in his father’s honour during this year’s NRL grand final, with his comments about Mitchell putting pressure on the governing body to exclude him from the event.
“We would consider any concerns expressed by the South Sydney club,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.
Mitchell set to miss the last game of the season against arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters after he was given a one-game suspension following the Rabbitohs recent loss to Newcastle.
The Rabbitohs must defeat the Roosters to ensure their spot in the top eight and to guarantee they don’t miss the finals for the first time since 2017.
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