Maroons breathe huge sigh of relief with Mitchell to miss Origin I
NSW’S hopes of retaining the Origin shield have been dealt a blow, with injured Souths superstar Latrell Mitchell officially ruled out of the series opener.
In a boost for Queensland’s prospects of reclaiming interstate supremacy, Mitchell – the Maroons’ nemesis last season – has failed in his bid to recover from a hamstring injury in time for Origin I on June 8 in Sydney.
Just days ago, NSW coach Brad Fittler hinted there was a possibility Mitchell could be available for Game One, pending his return from the US, where he is set to undergo treatment on his hamstring injury.
But Souths CEO Blake Solly has ended any hope of Mitchell running on to Homebush’s Accor Stadium for the Origin series opener.
While Mitchell is scheduled to return to Australia before the start of Origin I, there will not be enough time for the attacking dynamo to be rushed into NSW camp to wear a sky-blue jumper.
“Latrell will fly back just before Origin I but he won’t play in Origin I,” Solly said.
“He is going to a very intensive rehab, fitness and recovery centre in Philadelphia.
“The idea is that going there will increase Latrell’s longevity as a player in the NRL, but also mean when he comes back to play after the injury, he is fitter and stronger than he ever has been before.”
The news will come as a relief for the Maroons, who were terrorised last year by NSW’s centre pairing of Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic.
While Trbojevic (knee) has also battled injury, the Manly ace will return against the Tigers on Saturday and he could have a new Origin centre partner in Kotoni Staggs.
The Broncos strike weapon has been in hot form and Fittler revealed Staggs’ main rival, Penrith’s Stephen Crichton, is unlikely to be blooded in Origin this year.