
Brad Fittler has thrown Kotoni Staggs up as the frontrunner for the NSW left centre role after conceding Latrell Mitchell will all but certainly miss the State of Origin series opener.
Four weeks out from NSW's squad announcement, coach Fittler admitted he was impressed as Staggs got the better of fellow contender Siosifa Talakai in their head to head duel last Thursday night, urging him to back it up consistently.