Latrell Mitchell breaks silence after meeting with South Sydney bosses

Latrell Mitchell has emerged to face up to the South Sydney board on Tuesday.

The Rabbitohs superstar is staring down a one-match ban from the NRL over a social media picture that showed him leaning over a table that had a white powder on top of it.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Latrell Mitchell speaks after meeting club’s board.

There is no suggestion it was an illegal substance but the image, believed to have been taken while Mitchell was in Dubbo for a football clinic earlier this month, prompted the latest round of headlines surrounding the game’s most recognisable player.

Mitchell was tight-lipped when he left club headquarters on Tuesday morning.

When asked about the meeting, he said: “I just had a good yarn to them.

“No comment ... we will leave it with the board and go from there ... leave it with them and get home to my family now.”

He was also pressed on what he was doing in the photo.

“To be honest, I don’t really know,” he said.

“We will just leave it there, aye.”

He later released a statement on Instagram.

“Sometimes in life you make poor decisions and I have accepted that I as a man / family fam / club man, I want to do better,” he wrote.

“I can take this time now to move forward look, look ahead and continue on being the best version of myself.

“Love to all that has supported me through this. Very grateful.”

Mitchell earned the ire of the NRL in Round 2 when he gave an expletive-laden post-match interview on radio, but escaped without any fine.

The 27-year-old was also suspended for three matches in April following a run of on-field incidents, during which time Jason Demetriou was axed as Souths coach.

But he rebounded to form in time to win back his State of Origin jersey, starring in his first game back for NSW since 2021 as part of the Blues’ big win in Melbourne.

He then missed the Origin decider when he suffered a foot injury days before the team was named, placing the rest of his season in doubt.

Mitchell has emerged from his moon boot and started rehabilitation after returning to the Rabbitohs headquarters from personal leave but he remains on thin ice with Souths officials who are battling with how to handle the fullback’s indiscretions.

Mitchell could receive an additional fine from the club, with a suspension seen as unlikely and his contract not expected to be torn up — but that could be on the cards with any future indiscretions.

Interim Rabbitohs coach Ben Hornby wouldn’t be drawn into the debate last week but said Mitchell had seemed in better spirits since his return.

“The Latrell stuff will take care of itself, the club will take care of it, and we’ll go from there,” Hornby said ahead of Saturday’s loss to Newcastle.

“It has been tough (for him). He knows he put himself in that position as well. He is starting to come out of it, he’s been a lot better this week.”

Mitchell has already received support from next year’s South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett ahead of their reunion.

“I’Il look forward to it. 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.”

Bennett said he had no doubt Mitchell could bounce back from the latest setback.

“If you have his ability, it is not hard. At the end of the day, he is a football player and it is what he does on the field he should be remembered for. That’s the key,” Bennett said.

“Not what he does off the field, it shouldn’t be the headline. He is a great player and I am sure he will get it right.”

Meanwhile, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has already ruled out picking Mitchell for the end-of-year Pacific Championships.

“At this stage we’re unsure where Latrell is. But I don’t think he has probably played enough games and in a good headspace to be in contention,” Meninga said.

- with AAP