South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell shares his view on Indigenous Voice to Parliament

• Latrell Mitchell has had his say on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament vote 
• The South Sydney Rabbitohs star says education is needed before deciding 
• Daily Mail Australia provides all the latest international sports news 

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell has expressed caution when it comes to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament vote, insisting that he needs to educate himself on the subject before airing his view. 

Mitchell described himself as ‘the proudest black man alive’ as the NRL highlights the importance of moving forward together during this week’s Indigenous Round.

The NRL launched the round at La Perouse in Sydney’s southeast on Tuesday morning, with chief executive Andrew Abdo joined by federal MP Linda Burney as well as 70 kids from the school to work program.

All NRL venues will use their traditional custodian land names, while there will be welcome ceremonies and cultural performances before each game as fans are encouraged to learn more about First Nations history.

Rugby league is a powerful vehicle for change, with the NRL recently backing the Indigenous Voice to parliament that aims to provide permanent representation and recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution.

Mitchell was asked his views about it on Tuesday, and while he didn’t want to go into too much detail, he did reference his grandfather and everything he and others went through to help him become such a powerful figure on and off the field.

‘I don’t want to comment too much on it, but I think at the moment it’s an educational phase for everyone,’ he said, keen to do more research before the referendum later in the year.

‘It takes all of Australia to comment on that.

‘At the end of the day, I can’t speak for you and I can’t speak for the next bloke, I can only talk for myself and what my family believe.

‘For anything to move forward in society for an Aboriginal man or woman, I’m all for it.

‘At the end of the day, we want to make sure we get everything in the learnings and make sure we know what we’re doing and how that looks and how that’s structured.

‘I’m not a yes, I’m not a no, I’m not even a maybe yet. I just want to know more and make sure that my people can have a voice on their own terms and not be spoken for.’

For Mitchell, the week is a chance to encourage unity and give Indigenous players a louder voice, with the Rabbitohs and the other clubs set to wear specially designed jerseys.

It’s also a reminder of just how important players like Mitchell are, with the rep star regularly making trips across the state to inspire the next generation.

‘I’m the proudest black man alive,’ Mitchell said.

‘I’m loving where I’m at with this club and what it represents. It’s just me, and I’m very passionate to wear this jersey. I can’t wait to play on Friday night.

‘It’s a very proud week for me. I don’t just have one week where I celebrate it – I celebrate it every week. It’s something really special that’s close to my heart.

‘It’s not only about the jersey and wearing it that night. It’s all about the week leading in and what it represents, but also what we can learn and what we can teach each other in unity. That’s the big picture.

‘The bigger the NRL gets and the more they buy in and allow us to have a voice, it’s really enjoyable to be a part of.’

The Rabbitohs have always done everything in their power to support the local community, with players like Mitchell, Cody Walker and Greg Inglis leading the way.

Nothing changes for them this week, but it’s clear education remains vitally important after the Rabbitohs fullback was the victim of racial abuse earlier this season during a game in Penrith.