NSW Blues dealt huge State of Origin blow with Latrell Mitchell ruled out

Latrell Mitchell with NSW Blues teammates Jarome Luai and Brian To’o during a State of Origin training session at Coogee Oval in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Hopes in the New South Wales camp of getting back into this year’s State of Origin series have been dealt an almighty blow with star centre Latrell Mitchell ruled out of Game Two.

Mitchell was absent from the Blues’ defeat to Queensland two weeks ago after suffering a minor calf injury in the build up to the series opener in Adelaide.