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Mitchell ruled out for at least a month; Best, Ponga to make Origin recalls
By Michael Chammas and Adam Pengilly
Bradman Best will replace an injured Latrell Mitchell and Warriors hardman Mitch Barnett will make his State of Origin debut as Michael Maguire refused to be complacent before the NSW’s date with destiny in the series decider.
Newcastle’s Best will make just his second Origin appearance after last year’s finale after Mitchell was ruled out for at least a month with a foot injury, with Maguire making one other change to his Blues side which bullied the Maroons to square the series in Melbourne.
The moment Latrell Mitchell suffered a foot injuryCredit: Nine
Barnett has been included at the expense of Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu as NSW seek their first win at Suncorp Stadium in a series decider since 2005.
Best’s Knights teammate Kalyn Ponga was on Sunday night in line for a recall as a Maroons super sub as injury robbed Queensland of their two game two wingers for the Brisbane showdown.
Best got through Newcastle’s game against Canberra on Sunday afternoon to solidify his spot in Maguire’s team.
Mitchell is no chance of playing in the July 17 clash at Suncorp Stadium and has been told that he will be unavailable for South Sydney for at least a month with a foot injury.
NSW Blues State of Origin III team
- Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
- Brian To’o (Panthers)
- Bradman Best (Knights)
- Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
- Zac Lomax (Dragons)
- Jarome Luai (Panthers)
- Mitchell Moses (Eels)
- Jake Trbojevic (c, Sea Eagles)
- Reece Robson (Cowboys)
- Payne Haas (Broncos)
- Liam Martin (Panthers)
- Angus Crichton (Roosters)
- Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
- Connor Watson (Roosters)
- Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
- Mitchell Barnett (Warriors)
- Spencer Leniu (Roosters)
Both player and club are hopeful Mitchell doesn’t require surgery. If he does, the superstar fullback’s season is likely over.
He suffered the injury after 20 minutes of South Sydney’s game against the Eels on Thursday night when he drifted across the field and was tackled by Dylan Brown.
The 27-year-old told Souths officials his foot was sore at half-time, but did not receive a painkiller and was able to finish the game, during which he scored a try and kicked two goals.
Mitchell had a second set of scans on Saturday afternoon to determine the severity of the Lisfranc injury, a similar ailment to that which has kept Ponga out for the last 11 weeks.
Latrell Mitchell bags a try for the Blues in game two.Credit: Getty Images
Best is expected to get the nod at left centre, leaving Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton on the right side for the Blues.
The Warriors’ Barnett has been a shadow player for the first two games of the series, but was told to remain in Sydney after his side’s golden point heartbreak against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Ponga, meanwhile, is set for a stunning comeback to Queensland colours after just one NRL game in more than two months as Queensland coach Billy Slater also felt injury pain on the final weekend before selections.
The Knights star is eyeing a bench spot after starring against the Raiders on Sunday, but the news was tempered with Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi out with a hamstring problem.
Bradman Best shone in his one Origin appearance last year.Credit: Getty
Taulagi, who has played both matches of this year’s series, suffered the problem in North Queensland’s golden point defeat to Manly on Saturday night.
With Xavier Coates already sidelined with his own hamstring injury, Slater was looking for two new wingers with Selwyn Cobbo likely to be on one wing and Valentine Holmes shifting to the other.
Veteran Dane Gagai is in pole position to win a spot in the centres – possibly opposing Best – but there’s unlikely to be a spot for Titans forward David Fifita despite calls for him to be included on the bench for Origin III.
Asked about his potential recall to the Maroons side on Sunday, Ponga told Nine: “I would be extremely proud and privileged.”
“They’ve done a lot of hard work through the first two games and even last year, and if I get the chance to go again, I just want to do my job,” he said. “I would be very proud, but I’m not expecting it at all.”
The Queensland team will be announced on Monday.
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