Sonny Bill Williams’ manager says ‘racist’ treatment of Latrell Mitchell will drive him out of the NRL like SBW and Anthony Mundine

The manager of Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Mundine fears that Latrell Mitchell will be next superstar to walk away from the NRL because of racism and intolerance.

The Rabbitohs fullback has been under searing pressure over allegations he gets special treatment as the Bunnies fight to keep their season alive in their must-win clash against the Sydney Roosters in the final round of the competition. 

Khoder Nasser is the manager of Williams and Mundine and was by their side when they left the NRL at least partially because of intolerant comments made about their race and religion.   

Mitchell has taken time away from the city during the Rabbitohs bye round to reconnect with country and clear his head

Williams wrote in his book You Can’t Stop the Sun from Shining that the intense scrutiny he copped over his conversion to Islam played a major role in walking away from the NRL.

‘People were starting to talk about the fact that I was keeping company with Muslims, asking why I was hanging out with ‘those kinds of people’,’ he wrote.

‘Those’ as in Muslims. This just brought out the steel in me and raised my hackles. I needed to change for my own happiness, contentment, and to find inner peace.’

Mundine famously accused selectors of robbing him of an Australian jersey over his race, while he also fumed at the paltry $10,000 fine given to Barry Ward when he was racially villified the Bulldogs star in 1998.

‘Boxing is a very definite option for me and I may just take it up now … Rugby league may be too willing to tolerate racism,’ he famously said before walking out midway through the 2000 season.

Now, Nasser fears that Mitchell will be the next to quit the sport.  

Manager Khoder Nasser (pictured left with rugby stars Quade Cooper, centre, and Sonny Bill Williams) fears Mitchell could walk away from the NRL

Mundine was racially vilified during his footy days and accused selectors of not picking him to play for Australia because of his race before defecting to boxing

Sonny Bill Williams’ conversion to Islam put him under the microscope and that played a role in walking out on the Bulldogs to sign with rugby union

Racial abuse was levelled at Mitchell at halftime in Souths’ 16-10 loss to Penrith in March and social media has been a cesspool of racial comments ever since.

Then Rod Churchill, the son of rugby league legend Clive Churchill, sent a scathing text message to Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas labelling Mitchell a ‘cancer’ on the club. 

‘Where was the human headline Mitchell tonight Nicholas?’ Churchill texted Pappas following Souths’ 36-16 loss to Parramatta during Indigenous round in May.

‘Missing again, this was his big game apparently? Your club will not win another comp for another 40 years if this imposter remains at Souths. 

‘He is a complete myth who has the aboriginal [sic] cause paramount and south sydney [sic] second, if at all. I hope you and family are well. Nothing was done and now this cancer that is Mitchell has ruined the club.’ 

Clive Churchill, left, has his name on the medal given to the best player in the NRL grand final each year, but his son has tarnished that with his comments about Mitchell

Rod Churchill labelled Mitchell a ‘cancer’ on the club in a searing text message he has since apologised for

Churchill would then release a full-page apology for his comments.

‘I can’t take things back that I’ve said but on reflection, I regret all my comments,’ the letter read in part,

‘My reaction was out of frustration and passion for the Rabbitohs. I went overboard and I’m deeply sorry.’

Now, Nasser has said the same racism that robbed the NRL of Williams and Mundine could claim Mitchell as well. 

‘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. They need to be told because you want things to move forward. You don’t want it to be where Anthony Mundine and Sonny were. Anthony Mundine was very vocal and rightfully so.

‘He had zero tolerance for any form of racism that he encountered and continues to be like that. No one went through what Anthony Mundine went through, but people have a different way in dealing with these things.

‘Anthony was vocal about it. 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.

‘I don’t think there is any fair thinking person who would not agree that the Aboriginal situation in this country is far more important than your football team,’ Nasser said. 

Mitchell has largely remained mute during the turmoil at Souths that has seen club legend Sam Burgess axed as assistant coach amidst accusations that Mitchell and fellow Indigenous star Cody Walker were receiving preferential treatment.

He did post some messages to his fans on Instagram, including an image with jockey Ron ‘Black Magic’ Simpson captioned: ‘Was good to get away and disconnect from the rat race.

Sonny Bill Williams said he never attracted criticism in the NRL until he converted to Islam which led to a raft of abuse

Sacked South Sydney assistant coach Sam Burgess won the 2014 NRL grand final alongside Greg Inglis, who Williams believes should replace him at the Bunnies

Meanwhile Williams has endorsed former Melbourne Storm and South Sydney champion Greg Inglis to be the next assistant coach at the Bunnies.

 The two superstars were present at the JDRF Night of Champ1ons gala event at the weekend that focused on sporting champions and type 1 diabetes research.

Williams said Inglis would be the perfect foil to help settle the turmoil at Redfern. 

‘With what’s happening at South’s atm I think he would be a perfect fit within the club,’ Williams wrote on social media.

‘As a Pacifica player I always related to Pacifica/Indigenous players. The indigenous lads I know have always spoke of similar experiences. 

‘Nothing against anyone it’s just how it is. I believe being a coach is more than just knowing strategy, it’s being able to connect with players on a deeper level too. ‘