By JASPER BRUCE

The NRL integrity unit has been made aware of a photo that appears to depict South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell with a white powder.

The image began circulating on social media on Monday, with a Rabbitohs statement confirming it had been taken during Mitchell’s trip to Dubbo for a personal appearance on the weekend.

Former teammate Mitchell Pearce has called for the NRL to come down hard on the person who filmed Mitchell, adamant they should also be at the centre of the investigation.

The picture appears to show Mitchell, one of the most recognisable personalities in rugby league, leaning over a table on which white powder has been placed.

The Rabbitohs reported the image to the integrity unit.

“I hope someone comes down hard on the person who’s filming these things,” Pearce said on the Half-Time podcast.

“It would be good to know what the laws are around this because it’s bullshit.”

The blurred image of Latrell Mitchell, which was leaked to media over the weekend, has sparked debate throughout rugby league.

“The South Sydney Rabbitohs have been made aware of a photograph circulating through social media of Latrell Mitchell following a personal appearance in Dubbo on the weekend,” a club statement read.

“The club has informed the NRL integrity unit about the photograph. The Rabbitohs will be making no further comment at this stage.”

Mitchell is currently sidelined with a foot injury sustained during the round-18 defeat of Parramatta, missing the third State of Origin match and the Rabbitohs’ five games since.

He avoided surgery but will remain in a moon boot until later this month and looks unlikely to return to the field to see out the season with the 15th-placed Rabbitohs.

The image is the latest setback for a Rabbitohs side that has endured a disastrous 2024 campaign.

Having missed the 2023 finals series, the Rabbitohs fired head coach Jason Demetriou in April following a 1-6 start to the new season.

Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham, Tevita Tatola and Alex Johnston are among the stars to have spent significant time on the sidelines as the Rabbitohs have sat outside the top eight for the entire season.

Souths confirmed on Monday that Dolphins second-rower Euan Aiken will follow new coach Wayne Bennett to the club on a three-year deal from 2025.

AAP