Gorden Tallis and Gary Belcher lash out at ‘hysteria’ surrounding Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton

A host of footy legends have questioned the level of ‘hysteria’ surrounding Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton’s nightclub ‘fight’ in Canberra last weekend which saw the pair spend a few hours in a holding cell.

Broncos great Gorden Tallis, Raiders premiership-winner Gary Belcher and former Sea Eagles enforcer Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll all believe the public incident has been blown out of proportion.

Wighton, 30 and Mitchell, 25, were arrested on Saturday night following a scuffle outside a Canberra nightclub, while celebrating the birthday of the Canberra five-eighth.

They will front the ACT Magistrates Court on February 22.

Mitchell has also been charged with resisting arrest.

Speaking on Triple M, Tallis agreed with the sentiment that the incident was a ‘storm in a teacup.’

‘Two guys having a wrestle. If their names weren’t Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell, would we be hearing about it, and would the police have arrested them?,’ he asked.

‘Were punches thrown, was there anyone hurt in the situation? I’d say no, and just two mates – probably one [drink] too many. Started a push and shove and got in a wrestle.’

A host of footy legends have questioned the ‘hysteria’ surrounding Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton’s nightclub ‘fight’ in Canberra last weekend (pictured, at Wighton’s 30th birthday)

Broncos great Gorden Tallis, Raiders premiership-winner Gary Belcher and former Sea Eagles enforcer Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll (pictured) all believe the incident has been blown out of proportion

Speaking on Triple M, Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said the superstar status of the footy players worked against them

Belcher labelled Wighton – who in 2018 was issued a two-month suspended jail sentence after assaulting five men in a drunken late-night rampage in Canberra – a bit of a loveable ‘rogue’.

He also urged the NSW Blues Origin star not to change his ways in public.

‘I don’t want Jack to change at all. I know times have changed, but I can’t believe the hysteria over this,’ he said.

‘Jack would have fitted in beautifully with the old Raiders premiership sides. 

‘In our day, he would have been wrestling with Ricky Stuart or Mal Meninga and the cops would have come up and said, “C’mon boys, we know who you are, settle it down”.

‘It’s a different world now. ‘It says a lot now about modern technology and it p***es me off the way some NRL players get treated.

Wighton, 30 (left) and Mitchell, 25, were arrested on Saturday night following a scuffle outside a Canberra nightclub, while celebrating the birthday of the Canberra five-eighth

‘If another person was involved, that’s different, but if Jack and Latrell are having a wrestle between themselves, who cares, just pull your heads in and use some discretion.’

Carroll acknowledged two NRL superstars wrestling in public isn’t a good look, but told Wide World of Sports they were only guilty of being out and ‘having a good time’.

Both declared they are committed to the upcoming Indigenous-Maori All Stars clash in New Zealand on February 11.

‘We remain great friends, and are looking forward to proudly representing our community at All Stars this weekend,’ they said in a statement from their management No Limit Boxing.