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.
NSW coach Brad Fittler had hoped the South Sydney star would have recovered in time for Wednesday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium and had included him on his teamsheet.
Mitchell resumed training over the weekend but admitted failure to prove his fitness on Thursday and will miss out on the Blues’ must-win clash in Brisbane. It is not clear yet whether he will return for Game Three back in Sydney.
He will be replaced by 18th man Stephen Crichton, who will reprise the role he played in Game One, with Matt Burton called into the squad as a reserve. Mitchell’s Souths teammate Keaon Koloamatangi remains 19th man.
Fittler conceded it had been a “risk” naming Mitchell as well as Cam Murray and Liam Martin, who are under injury clouds of their own but are tracking to play. Mitchell missed NSW’s whole-squad media day on Wednesday, instead consulting with the Blues’ physiotherapists.
His teammates shrugged off that absence at the time, but the following afternoon, on the first rest day of the Blues’ camp, it was confirmed the Rabbitohs star would miss the second Origin game.
“The decision was made by Westpac NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, Mitchell and the medical staff after they determined he would not have overcome the injury in time for the game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday 21 June,” an NSWRL statement read.
NSW would have been counting on Mitchell, one of the most explosive players in the NRL, to help spark their attack in Brisbane after they faltered in Game One.
Instead, he sits out a fifth consecutive Origin match. Mitchell missed the first two games of last year’s series with a hamstring injury, then withdrew from contention for the third to focus on club football.
Filling in for Mitchell, Crichton was one of NSW’s best in the series opener, scoring the try that gave them the lead for the first time in the final 15 minutes. He has already been training in Mitchell’s place in the first two days of camp and will do so again when the Blues return to Coogee Oval on Friday morning.
