Latrell Mitchell’s mother, Patricia Goolagong, has spoken out against the online abuse her son endures, describing it as a “constant misery.” Her comments came after Mitchell shared a family photo on Facebook, which attracted a wave of cruel remarks. Goolagong directly confronted some of the trolls, leading to a few deleting their comments, while others intensified their attacks.
“I’m fed up with these cowards targeting my son and making his life difficult,” Goolagong expressed, particularly condemning attempts to involve his young son in the vitriol. She wished for the opportunity to confront the abusers in person to see how brave they really are.
Clint Newton, chief executive of the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), acknowledged the harsh reality of online vitriol faced by players like Mitchell. He emphasised that there should be no tolerance for such behaviour and highlighted the collaborative efforts with the NRL to ensure players have a supportive environment to report severe online harassment. Newton reported that many players often choose to ignore such abuse, with a significant portion not reporting incidents at all.
Furthermore, the RLPA is working to ensure that when players do escalate issues of online abuse, their concerns are taken seriously. He noted that female players, especially in the NRLW, experience even greater levels of abuse. The ongoing issues underscore the importance of preserving social media as a platform for player engagement without the shadow of harassment.
In other league news, young talent Christian Taupau-Moors has signed with the Tigers, expected to join their development squad next year. The nephew of former international Junior Moors, Taupau-Moors has gained attention for his outstanding performance at the junior level.
Amidst these developments, the NRL integrity unit is investigating an altercation involving Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar and a senior reporter, with varying accounts of the incident complicating the situation.
Lastly, there’s positive news for Newtown Jets fans, with a $20 million funding boost from local and federal governments aimed at enhancing Henson Park’s facilities, benefiting both the Jets and the Sydney Swans’ women’s AFL team.