NSW star Latrell Mitchell out of opening game through injury

Two days out from the State of Origin opener, NSW has been handed a horror injury blow.  

Latrell Mitchell is out of the State of Origin opener Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW has suffered a monumental setback with superstar centre Latrell Mitchell ruled out of the State of Origin series opener with a calf injury.

Mitchell sustained the injury late in Sunday’s training session and team officials confirmed on Monday that he was out of Wednesday’s showdown with Queensland in Adelaide.

The South Sydney superstar didn’t fly to South Australia with the team on Monday.

It’s a huge blow just days out from the game in Adelaide, with Panthers centre Stephen Crichton set to replace him.

Mitchell missed last year’s series with a hamstring injury and was one of the most dominant players in 2021 when he and Tom Trbojevic carved up the Maroons.

Latrell Mitchell has this morning been ruled out of the series-opener after suffering a calf injury. #ForeverBlue | @PA1NAWAYhttps://t.co/soZ0oFpwlL

— NSWBlues (@NSWBlues) May 29, 2023

The South Sydney fullback scored four tries in that series and would have been the backup goal kicker if anything happened to Nathan Cleary or Nicho Hynes.

Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton has come in as 18th man after he made his Origin debut last year, with Crichton expected to line up alongside Panthers teammate Brian To’o on the left edge.

The injury news has thrown the Blues into disarray after Campbell Graham – who was originally named 18th man and has been the form centre in 2023 – withdrew from camp with a sternum injury.

More to come

Originally published as NSW star Latrell Mitchell out of opening game through injury