The lead-up to this weekend’s Magic Round has been overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse targeting South Sydney players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
The alleged abuse from a fan occurred at Kogarah on Saturday in the NRL match won 28-14 by St George Illawarra.
The game was the first for Mitchell – a Biripi, Wiradjuri, Worimi and Gumbaynggirr man – since he was suspended for three games for dangerous contact. It was also the 200th NRL appearance for Walker, a Yuin and Bundjalung man.
The NRL was made aware of the allegations over the weekend and discussed the matter with Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb on Monday morning.
“The NRL integrity unit is aware of the allegations,” an NRL spokesperson said. “The NRL takes these allegations seriously and is looking into them as a matter of priority.”
The Dragons confirmed they are working with the NRL, the Rabbitohs and the venue to determine the facts of the situation.
“Racial discrimination has no place in our sport or in our society,” a club statement read. “The Dragons stand united with the NRL and with the Rabbitohs in condemning racism in all its forms.”
Souths were informed by a member of the public and the NRL.
“The Rabbitohs stand in condemnation of any form of racism in our sport, and society in general, and will support the NRL’s investigation in any way possible,” a club spokesperson said.
Last year, a spectator who targeted Mitchell with racial abuse in Penrith was banned from attending future NRL games. At the time, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the goal was to eradicate abuse.
“The message to those outlying individuals is very clear – you are not welcome in our game,” he said. “We self-regulate in our game. And eventually it becomes eradicated.”
Mitchell – who is among rugby league’s highest profile players – has regularly called out racist comments online.
He has struggled with his form this season, and is reportedly considering making himself unavailable for New South Wales State of Origin selection in order to focus on playing for the Rabbitohs.
Magic Round – where every on of the NRL’s eight matches is held in one location over a weekend in what is the code’s unofficial expo – gets underway in Brisbane on Friday.
