- Patricia Goolagong labelled trolls ‘cowards’
- Latrell Mitchell is frequently targeted online
- Mother said trolls make his life a ‘constant misery’
The mother of NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell has slammed a series of online trolls for constantly attacking the South Sydney fullback.
A fed up Patricia Goolagong contacted a media outlet in Sydney after Mitchell posted a photo of himself and his young son on his Facebook fan page.
When several unacceptable comments followed, Goolagong snapped.
‘I’m just sick and tired of these cowards and the way they attack my son and make his life a constant misery,’ she told Wide World of Sports.
‘They really make his life hard and then to bring his little boy into it takes it to a whole new level.
‘It just disgusts me and I wish I could confront these cowards face to face and see how brave they are then.’
The mother of NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell has slammed a series of online trolls for constantly attacking the South Sydney fullback (pictured)
A fed-up Patricia Goolagong snapped after Mitchell posted a photo of himself and his young son on his Facebook fan page (pictured) – which trolls responded to
Mitchell has been a constant target for some footy ‘fans’ after making his NRL debut in 2016 (pictured left with his mum Patricia, in his time with the Roosters)
Goolagong also contacted a number of the trolls directly – only for some to then post more abuse.
Mitchell, 27, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury – and is no stranger to abuse from footy ‘fans’ on social media.
In 2021, a NSW man said he was ‘exceptionally sorry’ after he was charged with online abuse directed at Mitchell.
Daniel Robert Hudson pleaded guilty in court to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence following two comments directed at the South Sydney fullback.
A second man, Patrick James Hawkes, was also charged over online abuse and pleaded guilty in his first court appearance.
The Taree resident – where Mitchell grew up on the mid North Coast of NSW – was fined $750.
The charges were laid by police after Indigenous star Mitchell took a stand against abuse he said he received from various people from the age of eight.
‘It’s not even just the rugby league community we need to worry about, it is about the general public,’ Mitchell said.
‘It only takes that one message for someone not as strong as me….for them to go and do some self-harm.’
