The South Sydney Rabbitohs are reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with the NRL’s exploitation of superstar Latrell Mitchell.
A number of issues have left the Rabbitohs seething, with the recent announcement of the 2022 NRL draw as well as CEO Andrew Abdo’s response to it now the breaking point according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
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Mitchell, who missed South Sydney’s finals run after copping a six-week suspension, will make his season debut in round three against his former club and rival the Roosters.
The report claims that the Rabbitohs believe the NRL, namely Abdo, are happy to exploit Mitchell with the scheduling of the match.
Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly suggested the NRL should turn its focus on protecting Mitchell from the “outrageous personal criticism and abuse he receives”.
“The NRL are quick to utilise Latrell and his profile to market the competition or ask him to take a leadership position on issues such as vaccination – when it benefits them,” he told the SMH.
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“It would be more impressive if they were as quick to protect and defend him from some of the outrageous personal criticism and abuse he receives at other times.”
The 24-year-old was suspended for a high tackle that left Joey Manu with a fractured eye socket.
The report claims that Solly’s last comment is a direct reference to Mitchell’s role in the NRL’s Simply The Best ad campaign used in 2020, where the South Sydney fullback posed with an Indigenous flag.
That moment became a big talking point and it’s understood the Rabbitohs and Mitchell didn’t receive prior consultation by the NRL.
When Abdo was asked about the scheduling of the round three match earlier in the week, he denied there was a deliberate attempt to have Mitchell return against the Roosters.
“There’s a lot of things that go into making sure that the first couple of rounds have a lot of excitement,” Abdo said.
“The Roosters-Rabbitohs always typically bookend the season.
“So I can’t say we did it deliberately, there are so many constraints that go into this.
“But it does work out well.”
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