NRL news 2023, Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell talk about Canberra’s arrest from All Stars camp
Jack Wighton admits he should have ‘taken responsibility’ and called it a night long before he and Latrell Mitchell were arrested in Canberra.
It was nearly 4am on Sunday morning when the couple were arrested following an alleged fight outside a nightclub in Australia’s capital.
They were later charged by ACT police and will face a trial court on February 22.
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Mitchell was in town to celebrate Wighton’s 30th birthday.
But it’s the birthday boy who now says he had to make the call and bring Mitchell – more than four years his junior – home.
“I guess it’s putting yourself in vulnerable positions. Knowing when to come home,” Wighton said in New Zealand on Tuesday.
“If we weren’t in town, this wouldn’t happen.
“I have to be smarter than that. I’m older than Latrell and I should have taken responsibility earlier and not let us go to town.
“It was one of those things – it was my 30th, we got carried away, and now we’re in this position.
“I’m a leader there (at the Raiders), you have to live by what you say, and I had one of those moments where I didn’t quite live it.
“It’s a shame for me, it’s a shame to put this to the club.”
League blasts Latrell and Wighton after brawl
Wighton and Mitchell spoke of the incident at the Indigenous All Stars camp weekend, where they flew despite having loads on their heads.
While they were understandably legally gagged with what they could say, Wighton said they wanted to make sure they didn’t completely dodge the cameras.
“We have to face it head on. We both left our families in Australia to come to camp,” he said.
Watch the NRL All Stars on Saturday 11 February live and free on Nine and 9Now.
“It would be unfair to the fans and everyone else if we pull out (from the All Stars game) because of our selfish behavior.”
The pair will line up for the Indigenous team at Saturday’s pre-season showpiece event in Rotorua.
But there remains a cloud of injuries over Mitchell, who was filmed screaming in pain as he was pinned to the ground by four police officers during the arrest.
“I don’t want to talk too much about it. The doctor pretty much cleared me. There’s still a few things going on with that,” Mitchell said of a shoulder injury he allegedly suffered during of the incident.
“It’s an underlying issue. The focus is now on myself for the weekend.”
Mitchell and Wighton insist their friendship is stronger than ever, despite police involvement in a struggle between the two.
“It was just me and Jacky being cousins, being friendly and doing what we do, just having fun,” Mitchell said.
“Would you hear about it if it wasn’t Jack and Latrell Mitchell?” »
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