Latrell Mitchell announces his Origin availability after posting cheeky photo with Blues coach Michael Maguire
- Latrell Mitchell declares availability for Blues squad
- Mitchell says if coach Michael Maguire wants him, he’s in
- Mitchell posted a cheeky photo of himself and Maguire
Latrell Mitchell has broken his three-month silence and raised his hand for Origin selection as calls for the Souths superstar for Game 2 of the series increase.
Mitchell spent Saturday with Blues coach Michael Maguire at South Sydney’s 2014 premiership reunion, posing for photos with the NSW coach and publicly declaring he wanted to play Origin.
The pair posed for jovial photos for South Sydney’s social media page, with Mitchell sharing one to his own story with the caption: “We on?”
Mitchell couldn’t have made a more compelling case on the field on Friday night when he was involved in everything in South Sydney’s 22-12 win over Brisbane.
Latrell Mitchell spent Saturday with Blues coach Michael Maguire at South Sydney’s 2014 premiership reunion, later posting a cheeky photo to social media
Mitchell looms as favorite to replace Joseph Suaalii in the NSW squad after the Roosters star was sent off in the Origin series opener
The Souths No. 1 was also charged with unlawful conduct during the match for inciting a melee after an illegal hit from Jordan Riki, but can avoid a ban by accepting a $3,000 fine.
The 26-year-old has not played at Origin since 2021 due to injuries but is favored to beat Bradman Best, Jesse Ramien and Kotoni Staggs to return to the Blues squad.
‘I’m ready. I’m looking forward to it,” Mitchell told the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.
“If Madge (Maguire) wants me, I’m in. I’m ready to go to Melbourne and give it to some Queenslanders.
“There was a lot of doubt in NSW because I was never taken care of. I have been the scapegoat. I don’t want to enter this camp as a scapegoat if they lose.
“I want to go to camp and feel comfortable in my own skin, bond and get ready to play for the people I want to play for. Don’t go in and be the scapegoat for the media to say, ‘Latrell this, this and this.’
Mitchell has been in good form for Souths recently but admits he was not 100 per cent ready for Game 1.
Mitchell has been in great form for the Rabbitohs in recent weeks
“For the first game I wasn’t in the right head space,” he said.
“At the same time, I was probably a little dirty. To be honest, I wasn’t chosen. I played God there for a while. I didn’t know what I wanted. I played with fire a bit. The doubt was there. I was afraid of being thrown under the bus again, but now I know where I stand as a player.
“I’ll be ready to go if I’m picked. I will not abandon the state.”
Maguire will pick his squad for Origin II at the MCG on Sunday evening after a nervous wait through the afternoon’s two NRL matches.