Two of the NSW Blues’ stars, Latrell Mitchell and Spencer Leniu, have committed to a media blackout while in camp ahead of next week’s State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium, despite their NRL contracts including an obligation to talk to media.
Blues coach Laurie Daley confirmed that Mitchell and Leniu will abide by self-imposed media bans while in camp to avoid provoking conflict ahead of game one.
Mitchell has already been refraining from speaking to media, refusing to front up for Souths so far this season. This has drawn the attention of the NRL, but so far, no further action has been taken.
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Spencer Leniu in action for the Blues in 2024. Getty
Mitchell and Leniu both took part in team photos as the Blues kicked off their 10-day camp at the NSW Centre of Excellence on Monday, but the pair declined to speak to media.
Leniu, who has been named on NSW’s bench, was involved in an on-field altercation with Queensland great Johnathan Thurston during and after the Roosters’ win over the Broncos last month.
The Roosters prop approached Thurston and voiced his disapproval of comments previously made by the former Queensland and Australian representative concerning the Ezra Mam racism scandal in Las Vegas last year.
Leniu received an eight-match ban from the NRL for calling Mam a “monkey” during their season-opener.
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It has been suggested that Thurston’s reaction to Mam’s subsequent car accident last October was behind the confrontation, as Thurston had criticised Leniu but not spoken out directly against Mam.
Mitchell also drew criticism following an expletive-laden post-match radio interview last season.
Speaking on Nine’s 100% Footy, Nine and Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Chammas said South Sydney supports Mitchell’s decision to shun his media commitments.
“They’re happy for Latrell to go on not talking to the media, to focus on his footy and if they get fined, then so be it,” he said,
“They will deal with it because Latrell is adamant right now that he doesn’t want distractions and this is the path he wants to go down.”
But Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould was not sure how long the jig would be allowed to go on.
“I don’t think they’re allowed to do it, I don’t think they are allowed to have media bans,” he said.
“They’ve got obligations, it’s [written] in their contracts.”
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Latrell Mitchell after game two of the 2024 State of Origin series. Getty
The media bans will most likely result in fines from the NRL.
“Obviously they are not worried by the fine but no one from the NRL is coming down on it,” Gould said.
Mitchell wants his footy to do the talking, and it appears to be working, with the fullback getting back to his best for the Rabbitohs since his return from injury. Picked as left centre by the Blues, he looms as one of the most influential players in the upcoming Origin series.
