Latrell Mitchell breaks silence on white powder saga as Souths make call on his $1.2 million contract

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell has broken his silence on the white powder scandal after meeting with Souths powerbrokers. The Rabbitohs No.1 has endured a tumultuous season - on and off the field - and was handed a one-game ban by the NRL for 'bringing the game into disrepute' after he was photographed leaning over a table with what appeared to be a white substance.

After leaving the club's Heffron Park headquarters early on Tuesday - where he was summoned to explain his actions to the board - Mitchell said he didn’t know what he was doing when he was controversially photographed in a Dubbo hotel room a fortnight ago. “I just had a good yarn to them,” Mitchell told reporters on Tuesday.

“No comment we will leave it with the board and go from there leave it with them and get home to my family now.” When asked what was going on in the picture taken of him, Mitchell said: "To be honest I don’t really know, we will just leave it there, aye."

Latrell Mitchell vows to 'do better'

Just hours after leaving the meeting, the Rabbitohs superstar released another statement, taking to social media to acknowledge that he wants to do better. “Sometimes in life you make poor decisions and I have accepted that I as a man / family man / Club man, I want to do better,” Mitchell posted on his Instagram story.

“I can take this time now to move forward look ahead and continue on being the best version of myself. Love to all that has supported me through this. Very grateful.”

Mitchell has only played 11 games in 2024 due to injuries and suspension, but his behaviour off the field has drawn widespread criticism. After the opening game of the season, there were calls for the NRL to sanction Mitchell for commenting on the Spencer Leniu-Ezra Mam racism saga before it went to the judiciary. Under NRL rules, players and officials can't comment on cases before judiciary hearings, but Mitchell strongly condemned Leniu and called for a big suspension before he was found guilty.

The fullback again found himself in the headlines just one week later for conducting an expletive-laden interview with Triple M radio in which he dropped multiple F-bombs following a Rabbitohs game. The fullback said he didn't care that he was swearing and wouldn't apologise for his actions. The 'white powder' photo then added fresh furore to what was already a turbulent year for the fullback, with South Sydney officials reportedly sick of his antics.

Mitchell was ordered to front the Rabbitohs' board to explain the latest photo before the club decided on if they would punish him further. And veteran reporter Phil Rothfield earlier this month said Mitchell's $1.2million contract could be torn up if he didn't agree to curb his behaviour. “He has to front the board and explain himself what exactly was happening," Rothfield said on Sky Sports radio.

"But also the other behavioural issues including the Triple M F-bomb tirade, the Spencer Leniu social media stuff – all that sort of thing. Souths are over it. He’s on $1.2 million a year and from what I understand they are going to say to him: ‘We want an ironclad guarantee this is all going to stop’.

“To make it stop they are prepared to go as far as putting behavioural clauses in his contract. So, in other words, if he does step out of line and bring the game into disrepute as this photo has then it’s ta-ta (goodbye). I’m expecting he will get one final chance but his contract will be adjusted and if he’s not happy with this new clause they will say ‘it’s all over’.”

Rabbitohs expected to give Latrell a fine and a final warning

The Rabbitohs are expected to hand their star fullback a significant fine and a final warning for his actions but refrain from handing him a suspension. Mitchell has been sidelined with a Lisfranc injury in his foot and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

However, there have been suggestions over the past week that he may be declared fit to return, which would allow him to serve his one-game ban from the NRL before the end of the 2024 season. While Souths also have the option to hand Mitchell a suspension they are expected not to do so as they believe it would impact the start of Wayne Bennett's tenure at the club next season.

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And Mitchell has already received support from the incoming coach ahead of their reunion next season. "I’ll look forward to it (working with Mitchell). I will be there for him and I hope I can give them the help he needs," Bennett said last week.

“I haven’t reached out to him (now). I’m not coaching there at the moment. I am not the coach there. I have responsibilities here. He is in good hands at South Sydney and he is a good person. I have a lot of time for Latrell. South Sydney will handle the matter. They are a great club and they will get it right with Latrell.

"’Worry’ is not the word I would use. I am not giving any counselling on the TV news here today. The club is handling it. I know he would be upset with himself. We’ve just got to get it sorted out and move forward.”

Mitchell can be fined up to $250,000 by the club as per his contract conditions. But the sanction will almost certainly be nowhere near that amount. The exact amount is not yet clear and will reportedly be based on how much remorse Mitchell shows when he addresses the board.