The NRL has been left looking limp as officials privately fume about the influence of powerful South Sydney pair Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker during the Spencer Leniu-Ezra Mam racial abuse case.

Mitchell and Walker were the loudest voices in support for Mam – taking brave and noble stances, which this column supports – but the pressuring of the decision makers in Leniu’s judiciary case has embarrassed the NRL.
Leniu was banned for eight weeks after admitting he called Mam a “monkey” during the Roosters-Broncos season opener in Las Vegas.

Section 31 of the NRL’s code of conduct states that “no club or person bound by this code shall comment adversely on, or with respect to ... any matter which has been, is, or is likely to be, the subject of a proceeding before the ARLC, the NRL Judiciary, the Match Review Committee.”

It’s significant that Leniu also spoke on a live matter – in an on-field interview on field with Nine News. That may have contributed to the response from others.

Some heavyweights at League HQ feel they have lost control of Mitchell, in particular, who, along with Walker, is the most respected Indigenous voice in the code.

The NRL has supported the pair through some very important racial issues, but in the past week the feeling from headquarters is they have gone too far. And Mitchell doubled down with an on-field interview full of expletives that forced Triple M to bring an early end to the conversation.

It led to respected Triple M caller Anthony Maroon labelling Mitchell a “disgrace ... an embarrassment to our jumper”, and he has called on Souths to discipline Mitchell. Maroon is a life-long Souths fan and member of the club.

Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell in San Diego promoting the opening round in Las Vegas.Credit: Sunny Brar/South Sydney Rabbitohs

Mitchell is fighting strong opinions about him on several fronts, and it comes after club legend Sam Burgess walked out on the Rabbitohs after claiming Mitchell and Walker were getting special treatment. His opinion was dismissed by South Sydney, but with the likes of Maroon voicing his views, questions will again be asked.