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First it was a guest appearance with country music star Luke Combs, now NRL champion Latrell Mitchell is bringing an entire festival to his home town of Taree.
In August 2023, Latrell Mitchell joined country singer Luke Combs on stage during his concert at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena.
The NRL star was filmed shotgunning a beer alongside Combs in front of a packed crowd.
Now he has championed the creation of the Taree Country Festival which will be held Saturday, November 8 at the Taree Showgrounds.
For Latrell Mitchell, the event is more than a music and rodeo show — it's a personal homecoming rooted in his Biripi, Wiradjuri, Worimi, and Gumbaynggirr heritage.
Growing up on the NSW mid-north coast, he remains deeply connected to Country, often sharing life on his farm and horseback rides online.
NRL star Latrell Mitchell is hosting a country music festival in his hometown of Taree through his company Winmarra
Mitchell is a well-known fan of country music and was a special guest when Luke Combs toured Australia in 2023
Mitchell has announced a range of talent and entertainment for the Taree community in November
He said he wanted to give something back to the local community that had been ravaged by floods in May, that saw The Manning River flooding at a level never seen before.
'I know this year hasn't gone to plan with floods and devastation - I've seen it first hand as I've been up at the farm, sussing out a few things there and what we've been able to salvage,' Mitchell said.
'I can only imagine what everyone else has gone through and what they're trying to rebuild now and get back on their feet.
'Taree Country Festival, really looking forward to this one guys. Bring your families out, can't wait to see you's all there, be up there, be home, and bring the love and spirit back into the town.'
The Taree Country Festival will be anall-ages event and will feature live country music, bull riding, freestyle motocross, food trucks, line dancing and family-friendly entertainment.
Proceeds will support the Winmarra Foundation’s initiatives empowering First Nations youth and rural communities, with performances by Arabella Romi, Ben Burgess, Beau Shearer, Don Rogers Band, Georgia Darr, Jayden Kitchener-Waters, and Zak Armstrong.
It comes after Mitchell was photographed in August 2024 in a Dubbo hotel room leaning over a table with a white substance, sparking an NRL Integrity Unit investigation.
The NRL issued a breach notice alleging he brought the game into disrepute and later handed him a one-match suspension and a $20,000 fine.
It comes after the region was hammered by record flooding in May that caused widespread destruction
Mitchell wants to give something back to the community that has been battling to rebuild
It comes after a turbulent year for the Souths star who has battled scandal, injury and suspension
South Sydney Rabbitohs imposed an additional $100,000 sanction, with $80,000 suspended, and directed him to participate in a wellbeing program.
Mitchell accepted responsibility for his actions, describing them as 'poor decisions' in a statement after meeting with club officials.
At the time, he was recovering from a foot injury, which complicated the timing of his one-game ban.
The 25-year-old requested privacy from the media, asking reporters to stay away from his home while he dealt with the fallout.
Following the incident, NSW Police removed him from his ambassador role with Operation Pathfinder, a program aimed at reducing youth crime.
Reports indicated the photo was taken while Mitchell was in Dubbo during a regional football clinic, and he later spent time at his farm near Taree.
The controversy followed a turbulent season that saw him miss several matches through injury and suspension.
