Rabbitohs teammates have rallied around their superstar fullback, amid concerns in some quarters that continued racial abuse of Mitchell could drive him away from the game - much in the same way it did to Sydney Swans legend Adam Goodes in the AFL. Mitchell traveled back to Taree to spend time with family after the latest incident, with Rabbitohs teammates commending the manner in which he has responded to the ugly controversy."He's dealt with it and called it out and it's not about Latrell really, it's about the whole community and what it stands for," Souths prop Tom Burgess said. "If we stand for that, then we're just as bad."It's about all standing up together and calling it out (for everyone) who has been discriminated against. Good on Latrell for standing up for what he believes in, and we all believe in that too. He's a big role model for his culture and his people and he's really strong in that sense."Souths prop Junior Tatola, who is of Tongan descent, said Mitchell's actions had brought the Rabbitohs squad closer together. "Everyone is beside him," Tatola said."We're in 2023 and it's still happening and it's not just happening to Latrell. My nephew, he's in kindergarten and he's getting racially abused. They're only kids but they're learning it from somewhere. It's got to stop. It makes me furious how it's still happening."Burgess says Mitchell's actions are important to give others the courage to stand up to racial abuse and call out social injustice. "He gives inspiration to people out in the country 11 hours away; they're finding strength from what Latrell did," Burgess added."The waves of what he does, those travel massively. He's got to keep being Latrell and we will be there to support him."
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