Andrew Johns in sobering warning for Latrell Mitchell after telling admission about NRL career
Johns has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the under-fire Souths star.
Andrew Johns says he sees a lot of similarities between his own career and Latrell Mitchell's and has offered a sobering warning to the under-fire fullback that he needs to be pulled into line at the Rabbitohs. Mitchell is expected to be hit with a one-game ban for his infamous 'white powder' photo, with the superstar No.1 set to face the South Sydney board this week amid reports they will look to insert a behavioural clause into his $1.2 million NRL contract.
It follows several controversies for Mitchell both on and off the field this season, with veteran league reporter Phil Rothfield claiming the Rabbitohs have become fed up with the negative headlines and distractions. Mitchell copped backlash for commenting on the Spencer Leniu-Ezra Mam racism saga before the case was heard before the judiciary and also got caught up with a war of words with fellow Indigenous icon Anthony Mundine as a result.
The Rabbitohs No.1 was also condemned for a foul-mouthed radio interview after a Souths game that he showed no remorse for and was suspended for three games earlier in the season for an elbow on Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson. The latest drama involving Mitchell and a white powder photo taken during a recent trip to Dubbo for community work has once again landed the superstar in hot water and the Rabbitohs appear to be sick of the negative headlines.
The NRL hasn't been able to prove that Mitchell did anything wrong or illegal, but has issued a breach notice for "bringing the game into disrepute". The fullback is expected to respond this week, and will also face sanctions from South Sydney when he fronts the club board.
Andrew Johns compares his own career to Latrell Mitchell's
Speaking about the controversy around the Souths fullback, Johns echoed much of the criticism around Mitchell that he is simply not held to the same standards as other teammates. Rabbitohs club legend and former assistant Sam Burgess alluded to the same issue before he left his role last season and Johns admitted he got away with plenty of things during his own chequered playing career.
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Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth podcast, Johns says he was guilty of a bit of "carry on" during his Newcastle Knights career and wished he'd been pulled into line at the time. And the Eighth Immortal says the situation appears to be the same for Mitchell after suggesting the Rabbitohs have let him get away with too much up until this point because he's the biggest star at the club.
"There are times looking back I wished I would've slapped myself in the face, some of the carry on I did," Johns said. "But it's hard for me to sit here and comment because I don't want to sound like a hypocrite. Anyone who thinks a set of rules is the same for everyone in rugby league or a team sport is bullsh*t."
Paul Gallen says Souths have gone too easy on Latrell Mitchell
Cronulla legend Paul Gallen also suggested Souths have given Mitchell too much leeway for far too long after questioning why he was allowed to travel to Dubbo for community work in the first place. Mitchell also missed the Rabbitohs' game against Canberra in Round 21 because he was in the NSW town of Casino for an appearance at a country rodeo. And Gallen says Mitchell should be following in the footsteps of other injured stars such as Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes, who are always present for their team's games and at training.
"He has got no one at South Sydney saying hang on Latrell, you're the highest paid player, you're the best player at this club, we need you here to support the boys, we need you here to get us out of this rut, we need your help," Gallen said on 2GB radio. The former NSW captain said someone at Souths needs to lay down the law to Mitchell and say enough is enough. "No one does that at South Sydney, they just let him do what he wants, and they always have," Gallen added.
"Privately, someone at the South Sydney club - the captain or the coach - should be getting hold of him and telling him the way it should be, but I don't think that happens at South Sydney. When attention is brought upon your club, whether positive or negative, it takes away from your job which is playing football and winning games, because players have to answer all the questions.
"And that happens so often when it comes to Latrell. But I don't see South Sydney nipping it in the bud at all. I see him constantly get away with it and constantly behave the way he wants to behave, and it keeps going around in circles."
