Why Tom Burgess thinks it will be GOOD if Roosters fans boo Latrell Mitchell just a week after star was allegedly racially abused during Penrith’s game
- Tom Burgess says being laughed at is a sign of respect
- Roosters have called on fans to go easy on Mitchell
- Burgess says booing is part of the game
Tom Burgess says fans berating Latrell Mitchell is a mark of respect for how talented the South Sydney fullback is, with Roosters players calling on their supporters to sack their former team-mate on Friday night.
Mitchell was incessantly booed by Roosters fans as the sides played at Allianz Stadium in the final round of the 2022 season, but a week later he retaliated with a brilliant display to knock his former club out of the final.
The treatment of Mitchell and other players is a major issue after the Rabbitohs star was allegedly racially abused last week as he entered the BlueBet Stadium tunnel at half-time.
While it’s impossible to keep supporters from exclaiming – especially when Mitchell has such a strong history with the Roosters – fans hope to treat him with respect as the NRL celebrates the Multicultural Round.
“Latrell is a great player who is a leader both on and off the field. He is loved by fans,” said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.
Tom Burgess says fans show Latrell Mitchell respect when they call him names
Mitchell was jeered incessantly by Roosters fans as the sides played at Allianz Stadium in the final round of the 2022 season, but he retaliated a week later with a brilliant display to knock his former club out of the final.
“Obviously Souths fans love him, but the truth is he’s the kind of player every fan wants on their team, so he’ll always get a reaction when he takes on his old club.” That’s part of sport.’
While passion and tribalism are part of our game, Roosters playmaker Luke Keary wants fans to fire Mitchell on Friday night in what will be one of the most heated games of the year based on what happened the last time the teams met .
“We don’t want to see that reflected in our game,” Keary replied when asked if fans will boo.
“This is a tough time for Latrell. He’s part of our family here at the Roosters. We all love him. Hopefully the game will come around him.
“He’s going through a rough patch, so you don’t want our Roosters fans or other fans to go out and constantly blame him, especially in this situation.”
Mitchell had the last laugh in that final match, leading the two-time premiership winner to dub Allianz Stadium ‘Trellianz’.
The reception he will receive on Friday night will be raucous from both sides, but teammate Burgess says being booed by opposing fans can be seen as a sign of respect.
“Fans booing is part of the game,” he told NCA NewsWire.
Mitchell will train with Souths on Monday ahead of the huge clash with his former team
Burgess was one of several players thrown out in one of the most dramatic games of the season last year in the final of the Bunnies’ victory over the Tricolors
“We saw it in boxing on Sunday when Tony Harrison was booed. It’s part of it and you can expect a bit of that.
“Obviously there’s a little bit of feeling, given that Latrell came from the Roosters, but it’s more a reflection of Latrell being a good player. If you are booed, it means you are doing the right thing.
“Wally Lewis used to get booed a lot, so that’s part of it.”