Blues greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have backed Spencer Leniu and Latrell Mitchell’s decisions to not speak with the media amid a mixed reaction.
Leniu hasn’t spoken to the media since his incident with Johnathan Thurston last month while Mitchell has decided to let his football do the talking so far this season.
Benny Elias described it as a “blight on the game” to Wide World of Sports, while Phil Gould reminded them they have “obligations” under NRL law.
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Spencer Leniu is on a media ban. Getty
However, Johns says he has “got no problem at all” with it.
“I think it’s their own decision, both the players, for whatever reason, whether they don’t have relationships with certain media outlets or feel like they’ve been unfairly treated, I see it as their decision not to talk and we should respect that,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth.
“I know there’s contracts and all this but it’s these two players’ decision and I support it.”
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Fittler warned there could be a precedent set by their actions.
“There needs to be something a bit more formal I think,” he said.
Despite that, the former Blues coach wasn’t critical of the stance from Leniu and Mitchell.
“I don’t mind it actually, the amount of talk we do these days, having Latrell not talk I think has added intrigue to the game,” he said.
Brad Fittler and Latrell Mitchell. Nine/Getty
“I think that’s where a Wayne Bennett style personality has really helped our game because he actually doesn’t talk and if you look at the other side of it there’s so much over-talking that it’s become the real rarity.”
However, when it comes to Origin football, the likelihood of a massive talking point increases exponentially compared to club matches.
Fittler believes this will present the main problem with the decision.
“I feel like in State of Origin there’s going to be moments, and if there is a big moment we’re going to want to talk to Latrell or whoever it is, they may need to aim up,” he said.
“The players signed a deal with the game so it’s between the game and the players that they sort this out, I can accept that players go on media bans for a certain period of time. You can’t just not talk to the media forever.”
