Updated ,first published
NSW Blues officials have been assured Latrell Mitchell will be fit for Origin I, with the South Sydney star expected to be given a modified training program to help deal with his back pain.
Mitchell sent shockwaves through the Blues camp when he was forced off the field late in Friday night’s game against the Dolphins.
The power center appeared to be in pain after a number of carries in the second half before the Souths coaching staff took the extra risk of sending him off.
Coach Wayne Bennett was confident Mitchell would be fit for Origin I and NSW duty on May 28. The Blues named their first squad on Monday morning.
“If Latrell is fit to play in Origin, I’m happy for him,” Bennett said.
“He’s fine, not too bad. It’s not a big deal. There’s a 12-day turnaround, so I think he’ll be fine.”
Southern officials confirmed that Mitchell was sick Saturday morning but was happy, and there were no concerns about his availability for Origin.
He is not expected to undergo further tests on the back injury he suffered against Newcastle a few weeks ago. Bennett revealed that Mitchell was close to tears in pain at half-time against the Knights, although he came out and attacked several Newcastle defenders on more than one occasion that afternoon.
The Blues will have their medical staff evaluate Mitchell once he enters camp on Monday.
There is no desire to name an extra center in the 20-man squad as a precaution for Mitchell. The 20-year-old will have to return to the club next weekend and play if they have a game.
The worst-case scenario is that Mitchell’s back flares up midway through the game against Queensland – although officials agree with proper treatment and a training regimen, Mitchell will be at no greater risk of injury than any other player.
Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who watched Mitchell call up Queensland in the second game of the 2024 series while in charge of the Blues, said the 28-year-old was a big-game player, but the Blues were also capable of firing Kotoni Staggs.
Staggs will miss Sunday’s clash against the Warriors due to suspension, but will be free to play for NSW. He is the right center in the game, while Mitchell has been more of a nuisance on the left side.
“I think Kotoni has improved, and he will be ready to go, and to be honest, the rest (suspension) has helped him in a way because he has been struggling with a leg injury as well,” Maguire said on Saturday.
“Latrell is a great player, but someone like Kotoni, they can come up with special plays – it’s the kind of Origin players that are special.”
Mitchell was singled out for the Dolphins scrimmage, but was relieved of the kicking duties to relieve pressure on his back.
The Blues got a boost as Cameron Murray was ruled out by a cannon ball that threatened to spoil his return to NSW.
Murray was booked for kicking Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, but the match review committee did not issue charges.
In other Kickoff news, Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton scored a try, but came up with a poor defense against Cronulla, and like most of the Dogs’ squad, less form and confidence.
Fullback Jacob Preston ran a good line for a try in the first half, but struggled to make much of an impact down the left wing.
For the Sharks, Addin Fonua-Blake had 15 tackles and punched in plenty of minutes as Cronulla captain, with Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon confident that the concussion that robbed Blayke Brailey of the final Origin qualifier will not dampen his hopes.
“When you play 139 straight (games), you have a rough idea if he’s good enough,” Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said of Brailey.
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Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Southeast Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect through X or email address.
