Anthony Mundine on South Sydney Rabbitohs, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Jason Demetriou, Sam Burgess

Anthony Mundine has gone into bat for Souths Sydney stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker after the pair were embroiled in controversy this week.

The Rabbitohs have been engulfed with infighting that saw club legend Sam Burgess walk after accusing under pressure coach Jason Demetriou of double standards.

Burgess left his post as assistant coach inside 12 months of working under Demetriou because he felt not all players were held to account.

Players raised concerns that Mitchell and Walker were receiving preferential treatment from the second-year coach and Burgess put it to the coach.

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It quickly turned into an almighty blow-up and even high level crisis meetings involving co-owner Russell Crowe couldn’t stop Burgess from sticking to his guns and quitting.

But former superstar NRL player Mundine believes Mitchell and Walker are entitled to special treatment from the coach.

“The system can’t handle two black fellas being the best at what they do, as far as footy, and having the influence they do at the club,” Mundine told The SMH.

“That’s all it is. When you have ‘sweat equity’ that Latrell has got, and what Cody has got, and we’re not talking over one or two years, we’re talking over a few years, you deserve that respect and you deserve to have that certain degree of influence over a club.

“I know ‘JD’ (Demetriou), I played with him in the juniors at Hurstville, his father used to train my team, he is a solid man, a good coach, but he’s also a people’s person and knows how to judge and take care of people.

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“Obviously he sees the benefit of how he is playing it with Trell and Cody. He’s the best man there because Latrell and Cody have the utmost respect for him. If JD says to Latrell, ‘I need you to do this’, Latrell will do it.”

“Souths can still do something (special), they have too much talent,” Mundine said.

“If they are strong mentally, and stick together, they will be champions within three years.

“For me, leave the brothers alone, let them play footy. I hope Trell and Cody start carving (it) up now. Mentally I reckon that’s the way they’re thinking to.”