Latrell Mitchell looks worried as he’s seen for the first time since his white powder photo scandal broke – and now his club’s being slammed for a very controversial move
Embattled NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell has emerged from hiding for the first time since the storm that erupted over the photo of his white powder. He looked worried as he was photographed near his home in Sydney’s south on Wednesday.
The Souths fullback has kept a low profile since the scandal broke on August 12, when it was revealed he was being investigated by the NRL Integrity Unit following an image showing him hunched over an unknown white powder on a table.
Mitchell has since been issued a notice of violation by the NRL and is expected to be suspended for one match and fined. He has until Thursday evening to respond.
Daily Mail Australia is not claiming that the substance in the photo is an illegal drug.
The blonde woman pictured with him, Amy Brown, has made a series of shocking statements and threats, drawing criticism after being accused of leaking the photo.
There is much speculation that angry Souths directors will take severe disciplinary action when he takes over as chairman later this week.
On Wednesday, the 27-year-old appeared to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as he was seen talking on the phone near his home before handing someone in a waiting car a compression stocking typically used by footballers to treat and prevent injuries.
He also went out with his long-term partner Brielle Mercy, who gave birth to their first son in December last year and pushed a stroller.
A worried-looking Latrell Mitchell stands outside his home in Sydney’s south on Wednesday as the deadline to respond to the NRL’s notice over his scandalous photo of the white powder approaches.
Mitchell did not wear protective gear on his injured foot, which will keep him out of the game this season.
The embattled Souths star wore a straight face as he stepped out with his regular partner, Brielle Mercy (pictured together)
The 27-year-old will chair a board meeting with angry Souths bosses this week
Mitchell did not wear protective gear on his injured foot, which has kept him out of action since July 4.
Souths and the Rugby League Players Association have been criticised for wanting him to serve his one-match suspension this season, despite Bunnies coach Ben Hornby saying the injury will keep him out for the rest of the year.
According to the RLPA, the NRL rules state that when a player is suspended by the governing body, ‘the cancellation or suspension shall take effect immediately’.
According to RLPA CEO Clint Newton, the organization is clear that “a suspension takes effect once it is issued… It is not dependent on a player’s availability to take the field.”
Former NRL star turned TV commentator and player manager Braith Anasta on Tuesday called the move “a joke”.
After saying Mitchell and the club should be aware that the NRL intends to let him serve the suspension when he is fit to play, Anasta told Foxtel’s NRL 360 program: “It’s just common sense, right?
‘It [serving the ban this season] It would be really ridiculous if you were to use one of those matches that he wasn’t going to play anyway as a suspension.’
In the photo: Mitchell appears hunched over an unknown white powder on a table, his left hand in front of his face.
Fellow presenter and former football star Gorden Tallis agreed, saying: ‘If I was the boss of the players’ association, at some point you’d have to hold the players accountable.’
Brown, who identified herself as the woman in the photo, threatened to leak “every juicy detail” about what happened when the photo was taken in a shocking statement on Facebook on Sunday.
Souths confirmed in a statement that the photo was taken during Mitchell’s trip to Dubbo for personal, football-related appearances two weekends ago.
When Brown was accused of leaking the photo, she responded in dramatic fashion.
“I didn’t ruin anyone’s career!” she posted.
I think it’s time to leek [sic] every juicy detail that happened in that room.
‘I’m so tired of everyone painting me as the bad guy.
The woman in the photo with the white powder and Mitchell, Amy Brown (pictured), has threatened to leak “every juicy detail” about what happened when the photo was taken
‘All I did was go out for a night with my best friend, (with no regrets) and I’ve been honest from the start and I will continue to be honest.
‘I have nothing to hide. About all this nonsense!’
Brown had previously made revealing claims about what allegedly happened in the Dubbo hotel room where the photo was taken.
The reason I did it [confirm her identity in the image] “That’s because everyone is accusing me of doing something wrong,” Brown replied to another Facebook user.
My so-called friend posted a picture of me, but it ended up in the wrong hands.
‘I have every right to write this status but I’m still being criticized… all I did was go to a motel where my girlfriend was staying because she called me after a night out, I stayed for no more than an hour and then left.
“You’re all blaming the wrong person here.”