Mitchell and Wighton were out celebrating the latter’s 30th birthday in Canberra when play wrestling between the pair attracted the attention of ACT police.
NRL superstars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton were arrested in Canberra over a reported scuffle.
The pair have been charged with multiple offences as the NRL Integrity Unit now investigates the matter and whether they will be cleared to play in next Saturday’s All Stars game against a Maori side in Rotorua,New Zealand.
“About 3.45am today (Sunday,5 February 2023),ACT Policing responded to reports of a disturbance near a nightclub on Bunda Street in the city,” a statement provided to the Herald by ACT police read.
“Two men – a 30-year-old from Bywong,NSW and a 25-year-old man from Chifley,NSW – were arrested at the scene.
“The 30-year-old has been charged with fight in a public place and fail to comply with an exclusion direction,while the 25-year-old has been charged with fight in a public place,affray,and resist territory public official.”
Latrell Mitchell representing the Indigenous All Stars in 2021.Getty
Mitchell and Wighton were detained overnight by police. The players are due to appear before the ACT Magistrates court on Wednesday,February 22.
The court date falls after the Rabbitohs’ and Raiders’ second week of trial matches,against St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers respectively,and more than a week before both clubs begin their NRL seasons in the first weekend of March.
Sources with knowledge of the incident indicated that Wighton’s charge of failing to comply with an exclusion direction stems from him being told by ACT police earlier in the night to move on from Canberra’s CBD,and not doing so.
It has been suggested to the Herald by sources close to Wighton that he will accept this charge,but will consider contesting the charge of fighting.
Wighton’s birthday celebrations started at Walsh’s Hotel in Queanbeyan with NRL players and partners,including Mitchell,who posted pictures of the evening to Instagram.
A group of players including Mitchell and Wighton then travelled into Canberra’s CBD where the incident occurred outside Fiction nightclub.
No Limits Boxing promoter Matt Rose acts as manager for both players and told theHerald from the US that “there was nothing in it. They were just wrestling with each other.”
Wighton and Mitchell have been close friends for years and are key figures in this week’s upcoming All Stars match.
The pair travelled back to Sydney on Sunday after being released from custody,where Ron Griffiths’ side is based before a scheduled departure to Rotorua on Monday.
News of the players’ arrests comes as the All Stars fixture continues to,which has seen Josh Addo-Carr,Nelson Asofa-Solomona,Joey Manu and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all rubbed out in recent days.
Players have put aside their recent ban on partaking in NRL promotions to support All Stars-related activities as drawn out CBA negotiations continue.
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