'It's shocking': Boyd throws support behind Mitchell

Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner has seen first-hand the abuse that Latrell Mitchell has been subjected to.

"He's shown me some comments and I've seen comments he hasn't called out. It's shocking," Cordner said on Tuesday.

"To see him, a young man, he does not deserve that at all. Nobody does."

But unlike others saying Mitchell should just ignore it, so as not to give the social media trolls any oxygen, both his club captains – Cordner and Jake Friend – are glad he made a stand and outed the author.

"I think it’s really good of Latrell to put it out there. I’d prefer him to do that – put the bloke on show. It can’t be in our game or society," Friend said.

"Latrell is a proud indigenous man and I prefer him to deal with it the way he wants and not hold onto it, having it fester. If that’s the way he wanted to do it I’m backing Latrell.

"I know how much he’s working to close the racial gap. Personally, I thought for a young guy to say ‘No I’m not going to put up with this’ and put the bloke on show was a good thing."

Cordner is placing firm support behind his young centre.

"I'm very proud of Latrell and what he did there. I think there is no place in this game and especially in society for racism," Cordner said.

"That comment was disgusting and I'm very proud of Latrell to stand up and call that out.

"He's set a precedent now and it's important for all of us to take note and if we need to call more of those people out. It's sad to see it in society in this day and age.

"The pressure footballers go through anyway, with needing to win and playing well, and eating healthy, then he has to deal with that ... he's a proud man; he's proud of his culture; and that's the last thing he needs.

"Anyone who thinks it's okay to do that and hide behind a phone or a computer, it's not on."

The Roosters need Mitchell as on-song as he was in the win over the Raiders last weekend.

"I thought the weekend was really good for Latrell," Friend said.

"It was a tough game and a lot of hard work with runs out of our end. We all see Latrell’s freakiness and big plays, but all the little things he did in that game, like shutting down Bateman and that edge, was awesome.

"We want him to be playing that way at this time of the year. That was a good step for him."

Friend said he has never heard any racial taunts directed at Mtichell during a game. But he knows the amount he's been subjected to off the field.

"He cops plenty and it always comes with the territory. He’s a star of the game," Friend said.

"You can cop stuff about your game, but you shouldn’t have to cop it about your race, or your family, or sexuality or anything like that."