NRL player Latrell Mitchell has made headlines yet again with another nomination for The Frownlow Medal. Mitchell earns his fourth nomination after images circulated online of him in close proximity to some white powder.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Talatau Amone is the most recent recipient.
The star fullback claims the photo was taken out of context and that he was simply performing a recovery exercise to overcome a recent injury.
“I was bending over to stretch out the lower back, glutes and hammies cause athletes carry a lot of tension in that area. I wanted to get over this annoying injury and get back on the field with the boys,” he explained.
“That white powder is a new muscle relaxant. It’s really powerful.”
The South Sydney player also played down the controversy surrounding the photo.
“People don’t know, but lots of players use this white powder, bra.”
Despite this clarification, he was issued a $100,000 penalty, $80,000 of which was suspended pending any further breach of his playing contract or wellbeing program.
The mystery powder might not be enough on its own to win The Frownlow Medal, but Mitchell’s history could help. He was nominated in 2023, 2020 and 2019 and this might just be his year.
The photo of the ‘recovery exercise’ was taken in a hotel room in Dubbo after Mitchell had attended a women’s football clinic. It’s not known whether he shared the recovery technique with the female players.
Image: Getty Images
The Frownlow Medal 