NRL CEO Andrew Abdo wants to see racism from the sport eradicated and promised to sanction and educate any person found to hurl abuse towards players.
Abdo fronted the media on Friday morning and said the game would come down hard on any offenders following Thursday night's racial slur incident involving Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and former Rabbitohs superstar Greg Inglis were among those to join Souths coach Jason Demetriou in calling for a life ban for the perpetrator.
Abdo said the Mitchell incident was being treated as a "top priority" with the NRL integrity unit working with NSW Police but said the message was clear that offenders were not welcome in rugby league.
"We will do all we can to make sure we leave the game better than we found it and that means that these types of incidents are not occurring," Abdo said.
"You're going to be called out, and not just by players but by fans and officials.
"We self-regulate in our game and eventually it becomes eradicated. That has to be our goal and our vision."
Abdo stopped short of Demetriou's comments post-match suggesting offenders should cop an immediate life ban, as the matter under investigation.
Demetriou was understandably frustrated by the latest turn of events after Inglis was the victim of racial abuse at BlueBet Stadium in 2018.
"It's not the first time we've come here as a club and our players have been racially abused. Like where does it end? It's just not on," Demetriou said.
"I shouldn't have to be able to come here as a coach and lead a team for players to be abused. We have to stamp it out completely. NRL clubs have to get rid of it on give life bans."
We will not accept this behaviour from anyone.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo
Robinson said he had heard Demetriou's comments and back calls for Mitchell's abuser to be hit with a life ban.
"We have to stamp it out. It is not about teams and who someone plays for, this is a deeper issue. It is unacceptable," said Robinson, who previously coached Mitchell at the Roosters.
"That is where we are still at as a country. Some people are casual racists and some people are overt like it was last night.
People don't like strong Indigenous voices like Latrell. They would rather he stay quiet, in his box.
Inglis told Triple M's Footy Talk podcast: “It's just not right, it's just not on. That spectator with me did get a life ban, and I hope the same thing happens.
"It doesn’t matter what team you support, if you come across with a racial slur, you’ve got to go. For this moron to racially slur one of the biggest players in our game just clouds everything.”
Roosters star Connor Watson added: "I've been playing with Latrell since I was a kid and as soon as he came into first grade he started getting racial abuse. He has done a great job of calling people out on it but he shouldn't have".
Abdo said possible sanctions will be made once the facts of the matter are determined.
"We've taken strong action in the past and I think we have a good track record of making sure we deal with these matters appropriately," Abdo said.
"Sometimes matters are very delicate so we have to think innovatively around what we do to make sure we are genuinely making a difference.
"A sanction is a part of it but also rehabilitation and a better understanding. We haven't hesitated in the past when we have information to act on it and enforce bans on fans and participants inside the game."
Abdo said he has reached out to Mitchell who is receiving support at all levels of the game.
"I haven't spoken to Latrell directly but we've exchanged texts and he knows he has my support," he said. "He's acknowledged that. I commend the way in both South Sydney and the Panthers have dealt with this situation."
Demetriou said Mitchell was "sick of it" with the latest incident not the first time the South Sydney star has been on the end of racial abuse within the game.
Demetriou: He's sick of it
"Latrell answers his critics with his character every week," Demetriou said.
"He continually shows the quality person he is. This is not something Latrell just cops on the footy field but something he's had to deal with his whole life... all Indigenous people do.
"Latrell is a real role model in our game. We love him at our club and he stands for all Indigenous people.
"He's sick of it... why wouldn't he be? He should be able to come here as a star of our game and not be racially abused.
"Who cares what colour he is. It's just not on. I can't understand how that happens in this day and age."
The Panthers that the club was aware of the alleged incident and said they would work with the NRL to investigate it.
