Two NRL stars will fight nightclub brawling charges as they prepare for a round one return.
Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton both pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged fight outside a Canberra nightclub at the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
But their attention now turns to footy, with their hearing not listed until after the NRL season.
Canberra five-eighth Wighton, 30, is facing charges of fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction, while South Sydney fullback Mitchell, 25, is charged with resisting a territory public official, fighting in a public place and failing to comply with an exclusion direction.
But a relaxed Wighton fronted the media on Wednesday afternoon and said the charges hanging over him wouldn’t affect how he attacks the season.
“No impact – the show goes on,” he said.
“I’m a footy player and I have been since a kid … I’ve got a job to do, to play football representing this beautiful club.”
The Australian World Cup stars were celebrating Wighton’s 30th birthday when the incident occurred on February 5, the duo previously labelling it a “harmless wrestle”.
They arrived at and left court together, Wighton laughing off any suggestion there was tension between him and his distant cousin, who are also close friends.
“There’s been no dramas there, ever,” he said.
“I can’t comment on any of that stuff. That will all pan out and work itself out in the future.”
Mitchell’s lawyer Tom Taylor commented briefly after the duo left court, saying the fullback’s version of events would be defended.
“Latrell has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Because he’s pleaded not guilty it would be inappropriate to talk about the case in any great detail,” he told reporters.
“Every story has two sides and we’re gonna defend Latrell’s.”
Mr Taylor wouldn’t comment when asked if police had been heavy-handed when arresting the duo.
Video footage of the arrest shows four police officers on top of Mitchell when arresting him while the fullback yells “my shoulders, my shoulders”.
Both will start the NRL season next week with the code’s integrity unit already indicating it wouldn’t rule on any punishment before the criminal matter wraps up.
Wighton’s Raiders kick off their NRL campaign in north Queensland next Saturday before Mitchell’s Rabbitohs face Cronulla later that same day.
The duo’s three-day hearing is slated for October 30.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
