- Mitch Kenny has filed an infringement notice with the NRL
- Follows bizarre social media post last December
- Kenny, 26, said at the time that “trolls” had taken his phone
Panthers star Mitch Kenny has been issued an infringement notice by the NRL over a social media post last year that “brought the game and his club into disrepute”.
The 26-year-old premiership-winning hooker caused a stir on social media after an Instagram post in late December with the caption “A few Boxing Day rules got me in trouble.”
Kenny quickly deleted the message and bizarrely blamed it on ‘trolls’ who he claimed had taken his phone.
The NRL Integrity Unit investigated the incident, which saw the dummy receive a half-hit on Thursday with a breach notice to which he has five days to respond.
‘The National Rugby League has today served Penrith Panthers player Mitch Kenny with an infringement notice alleging a breach of the NRL Code of Conduct following an NRL Integrity Unit investigation into a social media post in December 2023’ , an NRL statement said.
‘It is alleged that Kenny has engaged in conduct that has brought discredit on the sport and his club. “Kenny has five business days to respond to the breach notification.”
Panthers star Mitch Kenny has been issued an infringement notice by the NRL following a social media post that ‘brought the game and his club into disrepute’
Kenny, 26, is said to have posted a story on Instagram stating that ‘a few lines on Boxing Day got me in trouble’
Kenny later stated that “trolls took my phone” and wrote the message, which referenced illegal drugs
The Panthers quickly confirmed that there will be no official comment until the matter is concluded.
“Penrith Panthers player Mitch Kenny has today received an infringement notice from the NRL,” the club said in a statement.
“Kenny has five working days to respond to the NRL infringement notice.
“Panthers will have no further comment on the matter at this time.”
Cowboys star Valentine Holmes was fined $25,000 and suspended for one game after posting a small bag of white powder on social media last September.
The representative star later said it was a “bad joke.”
Kenny and the Panthers are preparing to head to Great Britain where they will take on Wigan in the World Club Challenge on February 24.
The hooker started 23 games for the premiers last season, with his only try coming in the grand final against the Broncos.
He now appears unlikely to play against Wigan and could also miss Penrith’s season opener against Melbourne on March 8.