When Mark Carroll was pressed on the early-morning scuffle between Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton, the former rugby league hard man whacked the star pair.
Mitchell and Wighton were arrested and charged by ACT Police following a dust-up outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.
The New South Wales State of Origin teammates spent the night in police cells, before being released in time to travel to Sydney and fly with the Indigenous team to New Zealand, where Saturday’s NRL All Stars game will be played.
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“They’re out having a good time,” Carroll said on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“At the end of the day, mate, nothing good happens after midnight. Get home! Like, seriously, what is going on?”
Mitchell, who was in Canberra for Wighton’s 30th birthday celebrations, was charged with fighting in a public place, affray and resisting arrest.
Wighton was charged with fighting in a public place and failure to move on.
Watch the NRL All Stars on Saturday, February 11 live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Mitchell and Wighton were both tight-lipped when approached by media at Sydney Airport and in New Zealand on Monday, but their management company spoke for them.
“For legal reasons we cannot comment on the charges that are before the court at the moment,” No Limit said in a statement.
Latrell, Wighton speak after arrest
“However, we wanted to express remorse for putting ourselves in the position to embarrass our clubs and the NRL over the weekend.
“We were there to celebrate Jack’s 30th with family and friends. While everyone enjoyed a great night, we understand that our wrestle, as harmless as we believed it to be, was a poor decision and may have looked bad.
“We are sorry for this and know that we need to be better when in public.
“We remain great friends and are looking forward to proudly representing our community at All Stars this weekend.”
Mitchell and Wighton will front the ACT Magistrates Court on February 22.
The NRL integrity unit is investigating the matter.
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