Penrith won 16-10,but the match was overshadowed by the racial abuse directed at Mitchell by a fan at half-time.
A spectator at Penrith Stadium was ejected for allegedly directing racist abuse at Latrell Mitchell.
Security staff and police were seen attending to one of the bays near the halfway line a few minutes later,with the fan quickly ejected.
Mitchell turned to the teenager and asked:“What did you say?“. TheHerald was told the young fan,who was wearing a Sydney Roosters jersey,allegedly fled the scene after being ejected and left his father to deal with the authorities.
Penrith confirmed they would work with the NRL to investigate the matter. Souths coach Jason Demetriou was furious.
“It’s not a claim,it happened,and it’s not the first time we’ve come here as a club and our players have been racially abused,” Demetriou said.
Latrell Mitchell at BlueBet Stadium on Thursday night.Getty
“Where does it end? It’s just not on. I shouldn’t have to come here as a coach and lead a team of players in here to be racially abused.
“It’s not what our game is about. We have to stamp it out completely. Life bans,anyone who makes racial abuse,get them out of the game. We don’t want their support. It has to end.
“Latrell is sick of it. And why wouldn’t he be? He should be able to come here as a star of our game and not be racially abused.
“Who cares what colour he is. It’s not on. I don’t understand how it happens in this day and age.
The Penrith Panthers host the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 2 of the 2023 NRL Premiership.
“I can’t get my head around[the fact] a young kid thinks that’s the language to be using. I don’t care what jersey he is wearing – get them out of our game.
“Security and the club have done a great job identifying who it is. Now it is with the police.
“[But] we’ll go all the way,we’ll go as far as we can with it. As a club,we’ll stand right behind Latrell. As far as I’m concerned,we’ll go as far as we can take it.”
Mitchell returned in the second half as Souths fought back from 16-0 down. Tries to Alex Johnston and Isaiah Tass set up a thrilling final couple of minutes.
Latrell Mitchell produced an exceptional try-saving tackle on Luke Garner as the Rabbitohs met the Panthers.
Mitchell was interviewed after the game,but only on the condition he was not asked about the half-time scenes.
He generated plenty of headlines at the start of the week when he suggested there were at Penrith following their round one loss to Brisbane,which followed a shock World Club Challenge defeat to St Helens.
Mitchell has been an NRL leader in calling out racism and injustice.
In 2018,Souths great Greg Inglis was also subjected to racial abuse from a fan in Penrith.
Alex Johnston scored for South Sydney,but only after his teammate Michael Chee Kam's ball-carrying arm appeared to touch the ground before passing the ball.
Demetriou stopped short of saying the constant abuse would force Mitchell out of the game early.
“I just get worried about Latrell,or any Indigenous player in our organisation ... where as a game do we say,‘No,it’s not happening’,” Demetriou said.
“There have to be hard and fast rules where if anyone comes close to being racial,they are completely ruled out of our game. If it’s a young kid,rule their parents out as well.
“If it was my child,I’d be absolutely ashamed,embarrassed that my child has even thought to speak like that.”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo promised a full investigation.
“Any form of racism or vilification will not be tolerated in our sport,” he said.
“We will not accept this behaviour from anyone. We are working with the stadium and the club to get all the facts. The Integrity Unit will investigate fully. We will stand behind our players and commend them for calling out this behaviour.”
Penrith posted their first win of the year,with Nathan Cleary shaking off an ankle injury he suffered just before half-time.
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