NRL happy with Mitchell, Roberts no action

The NRL are happy for the Sydney Roosters to take no action over Latrell Mitchell's failure to leave a regional NSW hotel.

Latrell Mitchell

Latrell Mitchell has been fined by NSW Police after an incident at a Taree pub. (AAP)

The NRL will take no further action over Latrell Mitchell's failure to leave a NSW hotel after the star centre avoided sanction from the Sydney Roosters.

Two days after his NSW State of Origin centres partner James Roberts found himself in the headlines for drinking excessively, Mitchell found himself in hot water at a pub near his hometown of Taree last weekend.

NSW Police on Monday night confirmed a 21-year-old man was issued with a criminal infringement notice for failing to quit a licensed premises on Saturday.

It is alleged Mitchell argued with security after being a part of a fight between two groups at Old Bar Tavern near Taree.

The incident came after Mitchell played in the Roosters' 36-4 victory over Brisbane on Thursday night.

As the NRL's rules stand, clubs have the first call on whether to punish players for off-field behavioural issues before the league has the power to come over the top.

While the league has taken a heavy hand on player behaviour over the summer, it's understood Mitchell's indiscretion was considered at the bottom end of the scale.

It's also believed his fine from Police was considered punishment enough, considering his alleged stoush was only a verbal nature.

"I think what will happen here is he will get spoken to by Trent or the senior players and have a discussion around the expectations," Roosters star Cooper Cronk said.

"It's obviously not ideal with the current climate of players getting into trouble in headlines. But I think on the scale of relativity it's on the lower end from all reports.

"The lesson is, we are in a very privileged position to play the game we love and get paid handsomely to do so. He probably just can't do the things he used to do four years ago.

"Unfortunately a headline like this just overshadows the tremendous things Latrell does for Taree as a city but also the indigenous community."

Meanwhile the NRL also considered a drunken image of James Roberts an internal matter for Brisbane.

Roberts missed the clash with the Roosters due to an achilles injury picked up in their round three loss against St George Illawarra.

Despite recovering from his injury, Roberts was photographed drunk and being carried out of a party the night after the match.

The Broncos said the incident was a poor decision by the 26-year-old, and that they would continue to support him through his rehabilitation.


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Source: AAP


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