Cross-code footy great Andrew Walker fears Latrell Mitchell could self harm as the Rabbitohs fullback continues to be a magnet for controversy.
Walker, 49, who played for the Wallabies at his peak as well as starring in the NRL with the Dragons, Roosters and Sea Eagles, is a cautionary tale for other footballers.
A supremely gifted athlete, Walker turned to drugs and alcohol to ‘escape’ and served a two-year ban from rugby league after testing positive to cocaine in 2004 when on Manly’s books.
The Indigenous star feels the constant criticism of Mitchell may send the 26-year-old to a dark place.
‘I am genuinely worried Latrell could walk away or do self harm. I’ve been through what he is going through now,’ he told Wide World of Sports.
Cross-code footy great Andrew Walker (pictured playing for the Wallabies) fears Latrell Mitchell could self harm as the Rabbitohs fullback is subjected to scathing criticism
The constant scrutiny surrounding Latrell Mitchell has teammates fearing for his mental health
Manager Khoder Nasser (pictured left with rugby stars Quade Cooper, centre, and Sonny Bill Williams, right) also fears Mitchell could walk away from the NRL
‘His two weeks off (through suspension for a late hit on Knights backrower Tyson Frizell)…. it can be a dangerous time for him.
‘He needs to be shown some love. He could easily just walk away – he doesn’t need the grief he is copping.
‘He also needs to ban himself from social media for starters. That’s where the haters say horrible things.’
A number of Mitchell’s teammates have also expressed concern for the superstar.
Damien Cook fears his team’s x-factor may be forced into early retirement and it is imperative he is ‘protected.’
Fellow Bunnies star Cody Walker said it would be ‘sad’ if Mitchell hangs up his boots prematurely and skipper Cameron Murray stated the welfare of the gamebreaker needs to be monitored.
Earlier this week, Khoder Nasser – the manager of Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine – publicly stated his fear that Mitchell will be next superstar to walk away from the NRL because of racism and intolerance.
Sonny Bill Williams’ conversion to Islam put him under the microscope and played a role in him walking out on the Bulldogs to sign with rugby union
Anthony Mundine was racially vilified during his NRL playing days and accused selectors of not picking him to play for Australia because of his race before defecting to boxing in 2000
Rod Churchill – son of league icon Clive Churchill – labelled Mitchell a ‘myth’ and a ‘cancer’ for South Sydney in a scathing text message
It’s a racist game,’ Nasser told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘It’s so blatant. It’s appalling. It drove Anthony and Sonny out of the game.
‘Latrell seems to be vocal in his silence. We need to know what he’s feeling. You can tell that Latrell has been really hurt here. You can’t hear him or see him now, but you hear other voices around him.
‘It’s sad that someone of his profile and his standing in the game is in this situation where he is attacked from pillar to post. I hope it doesn’t drive him out of the sport altogether. I’ve seen it before.’
The Rabbitohs have constantly been in the headlines in recent weeks after club great Sam Burgess was axed as assistant coach.
It is understood he relayed his concerns to coach Jason Demetriou about perceived ‘special treatment’ of Mitchell and Walker before departing the club.
Then Rod Churchill – the son of rugby league icon Clive Churchill – labelled Mitchell a ‘myth’ and a ‘cancer’ in a series of scathing text messages.
On the field, the Rabbitohs need to beat fierce rivals the Roosters on Friday night to play finals footy.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk