HaroldBishop
Megalodon
This is a fantastic initiative. Hats off to the players involved, very impressive.
South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell will go from being booed by rival rugby league fans to worshipped like a “rock star” within five days.
Rabbitohs stars Mitchell, Cody Walker and Tyrone Munro, and NRLW pair Quincy Dodd and Rhiannon Byers, will join ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Premier Chris Minns in Moree on Wednesday to launch Project Pathfinder.
The program, run with the NRL and NSW Police – and devised inside V’landys’ Druitt Street city offices last year – aims to help Indigenous youth make good choices and avoid a life of crime.
Three of the program’s first participants, including a youngster from Moree, will join Wednesday’s launch.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood said Mitchell, Walker and another Rabbitoh – Jack Wighton – had made about half-a-dozen visits in the past year to Walgett, Cabbage Tree Island, Kempsey, Dubbo, Bourke and Moree to inspire Indigenous youth.
“Those guys have come at our request, and a lot of the time at their own cost, without any fanfare and on their days off – they’ve been nothing short of phenomenal,” Wood said.
“We’ve visited plenty of Indigenous communities and missions. I’ve found Latrell an outstanding human being and he’s the first person to put his hand up to help us.
“He never says ‘no’, and genuinely cares.
“Wherever we go with him, he just oozes enthusiasm for his community and has been nothing but an excellent role model when we’ve been with him.
“Latrell and Cody are like rock stars when we go to the regional communities.”
Mitchell has been in the headlines in the opening month of the NRL season, starting with his public commentary on the Spencer Leniu punishment for calling Ezra Mam a “monkey” in Las Vegas.
He was then criticised for an expletive-laden post-match interview on Triple M following the round-two loss to Brisbane.
V’landys told this masthead at the weekend about the frosty reception Mitchell received inside Accor Stadium: “He makes mistakes – we all do – but if only people realised what a good person Latrell is, they wouldn’t boo him.”
Several teammates have spoken of their fear Mitchell could be driven out of the game early because of booing and online trolls, similar to the way the Sydney Swans’ Indigenous star Adam Goodes walked away from the AFL.
Mitchell’s form on the field has been solid for a Souths team who posted their first win of the season against the Bulldogs last Friday.
Saturday’s battle with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – albeit with the Warrior named in the centres with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad favoured at No.1 – will be a round-five highlight.
‘They’re like rock stars’: From jeers to cheers within five days for Latrell
The Souths star has teamed up with fellow rugby league players, NSW Police, Premier Chris Minns and the NRL in Moree to launch a program to help Indigenous youth.www.smh.com.au
