Captain James Tedesco and Luke Keary have pleaded with Sydney Roosters fans to treat South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell with respect during Friday night's NRL rivalry match.
Mitchell returned to Rabbitohs training on Monday for the first time since Thursday night's racial abuse incident at Penrith, after spending the weekend in Taree and ringside at Tim Tszyu's fight in Sydney.
NSW Police are continuing investigations into the incident, which appalled the NRL and Roosters officials, with the alleged offender wearing the club's jersey at the time.
Mitchell was routinely booed and jeered by Roosters fans in clashes between the teams last year, having left the Tri-colours for their arch-rivals at the end of 2019.
Feeling was also fuelled by his high hit on Roosters star Joey Manu in 2021, which earned Mitchell six matches on the sideline and left Manu with facial injuries.
However, last week's incident has prompted fears of a repeat of the Adam Goodes situation in the AFL from last decade, when the Sydney Swans star was repeatedly booed after calling out racial abuse in 2013.
"We don't want to see that in our game," Keary said.
"I think Robbo (coach Trent Robinson) was really clear about that last week. This is a tough period for Trell. He has been part of our family here. We all do love him.
"Hopefully the game gets around him. He is going through a tough period.
"You don't want to see our Roosters fans or any other fans of the game get out and just constantly lay the boot into him, especially in this current situation."
Tedesco also backed the calls for Roosters fans to lay off Mitchell.
"All the players and officials, everyone deserves respect," Tedesco said.
"We play the game we love for the club, for our teammates and the fans. That behaviour (from last week) is inappropriate and everyone deserves respect.
"I am sure that is how the game will be played on Friday. It will be a massive atmosphere, it's a rivalry that has been going on for 100 years now."
