By JOEL GOULD

Indigenous league superstar  Latrell Mitchell  will not play again this season, as white powder scandal has overtaken his current foot injury problem.

Mitchell Mitchell is on a leave of absence from the 15th-placed Rabbitohs after receiving a breach notice for being pictured with white powder this week.

The club had also appeared unlikely to rush Mitchell back from the foot injury he suffered in round 18, given their inability to qualify for finals.

“He won’t play footy again this year,” interim coach Ben Hornby said ahead of this weekend’s  clash with the Wests Tigers.

“He’s missed two weeks of training because he was sick last week, so he won’t get back, conditioning-wise.

“It’s a bit of everything, but he’s missed two weeks of training, so you can’t get that back.”

Returning coach Wayne Bennett will let South Sydney deal with Latrell Mitchell for now, but is looking forward to helping the superstar get his life in order.

But Bennett has also made it clear that any player in the NRL, Mitchell included, must “change their behaviour” when they get it wrong.

Bennett said he had no doubt Mitchell could bounce back from  the latest setback.

Mitchell will reunite with Bennett in 2025, with the pair sharing a close bond. The Dolphins mentor on Friday said he would provide guidance.

“I’Il look forward to it. I will be there for him and I hope I can give them the help he needs,” Bennett said.

“I haven’t reached out to him (now). I’m not coaching there at the moment. I am not the coach there.

“I have responsibilities here. He is in good hands at South Sydney and he is a good person. I have a lot of time for Latrell.

“South Sydney will handle the matter. They are a great club and they will get it right with Latrell.

Bennett said he had no doubt Mitchell could bounce back from  the latest setback.

“If you have his ability, it is not hard. At the end of the day, he is a football player and it is what he does on the field he should be remembered for. That’s the key,” Bennett said.

“Not what he does off the field, it shouldn’t be the headline. He is a great player and I am sure he will get it right.”

He said any person involved in the NRL had to face the fact they are under different scrutiny than others. He reiterated that personal responsibility was paramount.

“If you can’t handle that, then don’t do the job. Go and be a part of society, otherwise you will be under scrutiny and you have to learn to live with it and change your behaviour.

“It is as simple as that.”

AAP