NRL unlikely to allow Latrell Mitchell to make himself unavailable for State of Origin amid form concerns

The NRL is unlikely to allow Latrell Mitchell to make himself unavailable for the upcoming State of Origin series, despite reports that the Souths star is considering focusing solely on club football this season. Mitchell, who has one game left to serve of a three-game suspension, would face tough competition to even make the team on merit, given his patchy form and South Sydney’s position at the bottom of the NRL ladder.

Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield highlighted the players he believes would be ahead of Mitchell in the Blues pecking order, including Tom Trbojevic, Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best, and Kotoni Staggs. Rothfield also explained that the NRL won’t allow Mitchell to make himself unavailable during the eight-week Origin campaign.

According to Rothfield, only players who retire from rep football or those who are injured or have medical issues can make themselves ineligible. NRL great James Graham suggested that new Blues coach Michael Maguire should consider picking Mitchell despite his indifferent form this season.

Graham believes that Mitchell’s ability to deliver in crucial moments could be invaluable in the State of Origin arena. He emphasized that Maguire’s focus should be on selecting a team that can win, rather than picking players based on current form.

While Mitchell’s form may have been inconsistent this season, his potential impact in a high-pressure environment like State of Origin could be significant. It remains to be seen whether Mitchell will ultimately decide to prioritize club football or embrace the opportunity to represent New South Wales in the upcoming series.