Souths are reportedly looking to add strict conduct clauses to superstar Latrell Mitchell’s contract following recent controversy following an incident in Dubbo last week.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield confirmed Souths’ impending move after the defender was issued with a warning for bringing the game into disrepute following the emergence of a leaked photo showing him hunched over a table covered in white powder in a Dubbo hotel room.

Mitchell had five business days to respond to the notice, which could result in suspension, a fine or both.

The 27-year-old is expected to meet with Rabbitohs decision-makers this week to make his point.

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“He needs to come before the board… and explain exactly what happened, but also the other behavioural issues, including the F-bomb tirade from Triple M, the social media thing with Spencer Leniu – all of those things,” Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio. Big sports breakfast.

“Souths is fed up. He’s getting $1.2 million a year and the way I understand it, they’re going to tell him, ‘We want a rock-solid guarantee that this is all going to stop.'”

“To prevent that, they are even prepared to include conduct clauses in his contract. In other words, if he steps out of line and brings the game into disrepute, as this photo does, then it’s a-ta.

“I expect he will get one last chance, but his contract will be adjusted and if he is not happy with this new clause, they will say: ‘It’s all over.'”

Mitchell will be out for the remainder of 2024 due to a foot injury sustained in Round 18 against the Eels.

Cronulla NRL Premiership winner Wade Graham explained that the contracts are actually with the NRL and not directly with the clubs.

“When you sign a contract, you’re not really signing a contract with your club, you’re signing an NRL contract and in the NRL contract there’s a code of conduct that you agree to,” Graham said.

“If you bring the game into disrepute or your image can damage the game, they have the power to fine you.”

Rothfield confirmed that an existing contract can be amended, meaning the Rabbitohs have the option to update his agreement with new clauses.

“Yes, they can (change a contract) and I’m sure HR is working on it,” Rothfield said.

“There was obviously a warning to Blake Solly, Matt Rose and Latrell when he was in trouble earlier this year and they told him at the time that things couldn’t go on like this and we couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

“(They said) ‘We want you to concentrate on football and we want you to be on the field playing rugby league.’ ‘We appreciate everything you do.’ And Latrell has done a lot more good than bad for rugby league, but incidents like this keep happening.”

Rothfield said new coach Wayne Bennett had been in touch with Souths and the seven-time championship-winning mentor wanted Latrell’s issues resolved before his arrival.

“Wayne Bennett is on board. I’m told Wayne Bennett has spoken to Blake Solly in the last 24 hours to see how Souths are dealing with this,” he said.

“Even Wayne says, ‘I can’t just go to that football club next year and fix Latrell.’ There is one person who can do that and that is Latrell.”

“Latrell has to decide that as a $1.2 million player, rugby league is my priority. And when they had that mini-boost six or eight weeks ago, it was all because of what Latrell did on the football field.

“I think that would be really sad. Other people say he might walk away and say, ‘I don’t want to put up with these restrictions.’ That’s just not him. That’s sad.”