- Latrell Mitchell made a series of “personal appearances” in Dubbo
- His visit sparked the “white stuff” image that has rocked the NRL
- The league served Mitchell with a notice of violation on Thursday.
Latrell Mitchell enjoyed a hugely successful visit to Dubbo over the weekend.
But his trip to the remote town in central western New South Wales will only be remembered for the photograph that rocked the football world this week.
The NRL Integrity Unit served the Souths full-back with an infringement notice on Thursday afternoon, giving Mitchell five days to respond after he was photographed leaning over a table with an unknown white substance on it.
The photograph was reportedly taken at the end of last weekend in a hotel room in Dubbo, where Mitchell had been making a series of “personal appearances” with teammate Isaiah Tass.
On Saturday, August 10, the 27-year-old hosted a club night at the city’s local Pastoral Hotel, an event where he had promised to pose for photographs with fans, talk to patrons and take to the stage to “get the crowd going.”
The event took place in the pub’s club space called The Vault.
But it wasn’t a party-filled weekend for Mitchell, as the Bunnies and Tass star made a special visit to Country Hope Dubbo, a charity that helps regional families with children diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
The charity organised a meeting with a young girl who idolises Mitchell as her “NRL hero”.
New details have emerged regarding Latrell Mitchell’s weekend in Dubbo (Mitchell and Isaiah Tass pictured with fans at a local football ground)
Mitchell visited a charity, a local football club and organised a pub night during the trip with South Sydney Rabbitohs teammate Isaiah Tass.
The Bunnies duo also visited the dressing room after Macquarie Raiders’ win at Apex Oval.
The Bunnies duo attended an Indigenous round match at Apex Oval on Sunday, where they were mobbed by fans as they expressed their support for the Macquarie Raiders.
After the final whistle, Mitchell and Tass celebrated the women’s team’s victory in the locker room.
Mitchell was also photographed signing caps for children at the stadium.
“I love the game, but when it comes to representing your culture and the game allows you to do that, it’s very special,” Mitchell told local newspaper the Daily Liberal.
“A lot of people love it. It’s an inclusive event that everyone can participate in.”
However, Mitchell’s seemingly healthy journey has been marred by the emergence of a picture that has sent shockwaves through the Bunnies camp and the wider NRL community.
There is no suggestion that Tass was with Mitchell at the time the photograph was taken.
A huge row has erupted within the Dubbo community over the identity of the person who took and leaked the image, with local woman Amy Brown confessing to being the mysterious blonde woman who appeared alongside Mitchell in the hotel room.
Brown is not charged with any crime and said she did not know the photo was taken, and also denied sharing the image.
The poster advertising Latrell Mitchell’s club night at a local pub in Dubbo
But the visit will be remembered for the appearance of a photo of Mitchell bent over a table with an unknown white substance.
The mysterious blonde photographed with Latrell Mitchell in the white powder saga has been revealed as Amy Brown
“They showed me (the photo) at football on Sunday,” he said in a Facebook post.
“I didn’t even know that image existed until then.”
Mitchell was interviewed by the NRL on Tuesday but has yet to speak publicly about the scandal.
“Latrell is doing fine,” his adviser Matt Rose told 7NEWS.
“Yes, I mean, at this stage, under NRL rules, he can’t make any comment.”
Mitchell’s NSW Blues teammate Jarome Luai discussed the issue after training on Tuesday.
“I think it’s a pretty sensitive topic when you start talking about those things,” Luai said.
‘I think reflecting on it I just want to personally make sure that I’m doing the right thing and that I have a positive message for my audience.
“I wish him all the best. I’m sure he feels very sorry for what happened.”