Top lawyer explains why the NRL will NOT be able to punish Latrell Mitchell over white powder photo – unless one very unlikely thing happens

A leading lawyer has explained why the NRL is unlikely to punish Latrell Mitchell over a photo showing him with an unknown white powder – unless the Rabbitohs star admits he did something wrong.

The development comes after Mitchell, 27, was questioned by the NRL Integrity Unit over the phone about the image on Tuesday.

Sydney’s top lawyer Paul McGirr does not believe Mitchell will face a fine or suspension after he was photographed leaning over a table in a Dubbo hotel next to what appeared to be an unknown white substance.

Ny Breaking Australia does not claim it is an illegal drug.

“Unless Latrell Mitchell, or whoever was in that room, were to testify what Latrell actually did, and when, then I would say on the merits that the case is highly likely to fail,” McGirr said. News Corp.

“It’s just speculation about a person hunched over a table. The NRL only has to prove things on the balance of probabilities, but without any admission the case would be difficult.

“Without assuming anything, there is nothing in the still image that indicates what he is doing without playing havoc with our minds. Without any confirmation or denial, it is pure speculation.”

Meanwhile, former NSW Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce has come to Mitchell’s defence following the scandal.

The development comes after Mitchell, 27, was interviewed by the NRL Integrity Unit over the image on Tuesday. He has also not yet commented on the matter.

Pearce and former football buddy Todd Carney spoke on the Half-Time podcast, with Pearce stressing that Mitchell is not the main culprit in the scandal.

Pearce has personally experienced footage of himself being shared on social media without his consent. In 2016, he was banned for eight matches after a leaked video showed him simulating a disgusting act with a dog.

“I hope someone takes tough action against the person filming these things,” Pearce said.

“It would be good to know what the laws are on this because it’s nonsense. You would hope it’s not his mate, but whoever was in there and did that, there should be major repercussions.

“The game needs to find out who these people are and go after them hard. They need to name them and expose them, because these people are getting away with murder and there are no repercussions.

‘Poor Latrell will put his hand up and say he did something wrong, but the other person who filmed it needs to be named and shamed.

“It’s a horrible feeling to be Latrell and have these kinds of things come up.

‘I sympathize with him, but at the same time, if he does this, then he’s putting himself in an average position, isn’t he?’

Reformed bad boy Mitchell Pearce (pictured with his former fiancée Kristin Scott) has called on the NRL to ‘take tough action’ against the person who filmed the controversial video

‘It’s not good for the game and it’s not good for Latrell. Nobody knows what the white substance was so it’s hard to comment on that but it’s not good for the game and it’s not good for Souths with the year they’ve had.’

Carney added that he hopes Mitchell has the right people around him to get through this difficult time in his life.

“It’s sad to see an athlete’s privacy being violated again,” said the former five-eighth.

“For Latrell it will obviously have huge implications. He is one of the biggest stars in our game.

“My concern now is for Latrell and how he handles it, what he does… whether he comes out and admits it or backs away from it. That’s the concern for a player because we’re all human and we make mistakes.

‘Hopefully Latrell has enough support around him, because she [media] don’t leave him alone until they get a story. I’m going to stand up for Latrell, and hopefully he’s okay.’