Wayne Bennett has praised Latrell Mitchell’s maturity after the star centre ruled himself out of the State of Origin opener due to a back injury – a decision that will give him the best possible chance to get back in contention for game two.
Mitchell made the tough call to place himself off-limits for NSW on Sunday afternoon, just hours before coach Laurie Daley and his coaching staff were due to finalise their 20-man squad.
Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton will be the centre pairing in the series opener at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night.
Bennett said Mitchell’s injury was not a long-term concern, and that he was expected to return after the bye in round 14 against Manly. Mitchell will have 80 minutes to convince Daley he deserves an immediate recall.
As it stands, the injured trio of Mitchell, Brisbane prop Payne Haas (knee), and Panthers back-rower Liam Martin (knee) will all be available for Origin II in Melbourne on June 17.
“I’ve got no doubts Latrell was keen to play for NSW, but at the same time he realised he couldn’t do the job properly – if he can’t play his part properly, he doesn’t want to let anyone down,” Bennett said on Monday.
“He doesn’t want to let his club down, and he doesn’t want to let his state down.
“He’s been in great form. We’d all love to see him play, but the bottom line is he’s at the age and place in his life where he’s mature enough to say, ‘If I’m going to help my club and NSW, I need to get myself sorted out, and I’ve got an opportunity over the next couple of weeks to do that’. It was very selfless.
“He’s made a good decision. He won’t play this week, and with the bye, he’ll have three weeks before he has to play again, and that will clear it all up.”
Blues staff were open to giving Mitchell a modified training program in camp to ensure he was ready by kick-off.
NSW medicos confirmed on Monday none of the 20 players in camp were carrying any niggles, which is a rarity in rugby league at this time of season. Haas and winger Brian To’o managed injuries in the corresponding camp last year.
South Sydney captain Cam Murray, who ended up the only Rabbitohs player in the NSW team after Keaon Koloamatangi missed out and Campbell Graham was unavailable because of a calf strain, said the enforced rest would only benefit the Bunnies and the Blues.
“It would have been a hard decision to say no to a NSW jersey, but Latrell knew he wasn’t right, and he wanted to give some of the other in-form and healthy players an opportunity to perform at the highest level you can play,” Murray said.
“I’m proud of the way he’s handled it. He’s been among the top five players in the NRL to start the year. The level of intensity he plays at takes a toll on your body; now it’s a matter of playing the best he can while also maintaining a healthy body.”
Mitchell was below his high standards against the Dolphins, and started to wince in pain with the last few carries before he came from the field with less than ten minutes remaining.
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