Blues greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have backed Spencer Leniu and Latrell Mitchell’s choices to not communicate with the media amid a blended response.
Leniu hasn’t spoken to the media since his incident with Johnathan Thurston final month whereas Mitchell has determined to let his soccer do the speaking thus far this season.
Benny Elias described it as a “blight on the sport” to Broad World of Sports activities, whereas Phil Gould reminded them they’ve “obligations” beneath NRL regulation.
READ MORE: Ange creates historical past with epic European title win
READ MORE: ‘Love you brother’: Joel Selwood’s heartbreaking tribute
READ MORE: Gould’s emphatic name on teen prodigy after intriguing sight
Spencer Leniu is on a media ban. Getty
Nonetheless, Johns says he has “bought no downside in any respect” with it.
“I feel it is their very own choice, each the gamers, for no matter cause, whether or not they haven’t got relationships with sure media retailers or really feel like they have been unfairly handled, I see it as their choice to not speak and we should always respect that,” he mentioned on Broad World of Sports activities’ Freddy and the Eighth.
“I do know there’s contracts and all this but it surely’s these two gamers’ choice and I help it.”
Watch the 2025 State of Origin collection solely reside and free on 9 and 9Now.
Fittler warned there may very well be a precedent set by their actions.
“There must be one thing a bit extra formal I feel,” he mentioned.
Regardless of that, the previous Blues coach wasn’t vital of the stance from Leniu and Mitchell.
“I do not thoughts it really, the quantity of speak we do lately, having Latrell not speak I feel has added intrigue to the sport,” he mentioned.
Brad Fittler and Latrell Mitchell. 9/Getty
“I feel that is the place a Wayne Bennett fashion character has actually helped our sport as a result of he really does not speak and when you take a look at the opposite facet of it there’s a lot over-talking that it is develop into the actual rarity.”
Nonetheless, in the case of Origin soccer, the chance of an enormous speaking level will increase exponentially in comparison with membership matches.
Fittler believes it will current the principle downside with the choice.
“I really feel like in State of Origin there’s going to be moments, and if there’s a massive second we’ll need to speak to Latrell or whoever it’s, they might must goal up,” he mentioned.
“The gamers signed a take care of the sport so it is between the sport and the gamers that they type this out, I can settle for that gamers go on media bans for a sure time period. You possibly can’t simply not speak to the media ceaselessly.”
