NRL to investigate racist abuse towards Latrell Mitchell

The NRL Integrity Unit are to launch an investigation over racial abuse on social media aimed towards Sydney Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell.

Mitchell was one of several players targeted by racist trolls over the weekend and took to his own social media to call out one individual.

In an Instagram story on Monday, the 22-year-old posted a screenshot of the abuse, with the caption: “it’s just a game of footy. There is not (sic) need for comments like this. Sh*t like this is disappointing. 2019 an (sic) nothing is changing.”

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg also condemned the abuse, saying: “Racism must be called out in all its forms because the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.

“I commend Latrell for doing just that. These comments are disgusting and have no place in our game.

“There is no place for any sort of abuse on social media towards our players or their families.”

Mitchell’s story was then shared by a number of NRL players, including fellow Indigenous All Star representatives Wade Graham, Joel Thompson and James Roberts, who called for more action to be taken to stamp out racial abuse within rugby league.

“It burns, it really hurts to see comments like that,” Thompson told NRL.com.

“It’s just not good enough. I retweeted it and I was just hurt by what was said to Latrell. It needs to stop.

“It brings up deep hurt that the racism has happened to his parents, to his grandparents, to our people over time.

“It brings up different emotions and you would think in 2019 it would stop but unfortunately it hasn’t.

“I hope the bloke that put that message out there needs to be held accountable. I hope that his boss or his family hold him accountable.

“He needs to be rubbed out of the game if he’s involved at any club.”

The culprit is yet to be charged, however should they be an NRL club member, it is understood that they would face having their membership revoked along with being banned from attending NRL games.