Latrell Mitchell has implored NSW coach Michael Maguire to pick him for game two at the MCG, vowing to “give it to some Queenslanders” if named in the team on Sunday night.
In his first interview in three months, the in-form South Sydney fullback admitted a fear of being made a scapegoat contributed to his indecision over whether to make himself available for this year’s Origin series, but said he was now ready to answer a Blues SOS after their loss in the opening game.
Mitchell, who turns 27 on Sunday, has overcome the doubts that left him questioning his desire to play for the Blues as a result of previous Origin pain.
“I’m ready. I’m keen,” Mitchell told this masthead. “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 with NSW because I’ve never been looked after. I’ve been the scapegoat. I don’t want to go into this camp being the scapegoat if they lose.
“I want to go into a camp and feel comfortable in my own skin and create some bonds and get ready to play for people I want to play for. Not go in and be the scapegoat for the media to go, ‘Latrell this, this and this’.”
Mitchell sat next to Maguire at the South Sydney 2014 premiership reunion on Saturday afternoon. The Blues coach has a vacancy in his back line following the suspension of Joseph Suaalii, who was sent off in game one for a high tackle on Maroons fullback Reece Walsh.
Latrell Mitchell has declared he’s ready to wear the NSW jersey again.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Mitchell is well placed to earn a recall at left centre just weeks after telling Souths officials he was considering withdrawing from Origin contention.
His chief concern was a belief he has been hung out to dry by the state in previous campaigns. Mitchell was unsure whether he wanted to put himself back in that spotlight.
But after an impressive month of football, culminating in a convincing win over the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night, the Rabbitohs No.1 is ready to re-enter the Origin furnace.
“I wasn’t in the right head space before game one,” he said. “At the same time, I was probably a bit filthy I didn’t get picked, to be honest. I was playing god there for a little bit. I didn’t know what I wanted. I played with fire a little bit. The doubt was there. I was scared about being thrown under the bus again. But now I know where I stand as a player. I’m ready to go if I get picked. I won’t let the state down.
‘There was a lot of doubt with NSW because I’ve never been looked after. I’ve been the scapegoat. I don’t want to go into this camp being the scapegoat if they lose.’
Latrell Mitchell
“I just feel like I want people to protect me if shit hits the fan. That’s what I think Madge will do. I just felt like before, I was always the scapegoat. That it was just easier to go against me than with me. That’s why the doubt came back and I thought, ‘I don’t want to play, I don’t want to play’.
“There’s so much bullshit about me and Origin, when all I’ve ever done is win for Origin. I’ve given everything to NSW, the badge and the name on my back – my family. Not having that protection after, when shit hits the fan, that’s where the doubt crept in about going back and playing representative footy.”
Mitchell’s issues began in 2019, when former Blues coach Brad Fittler dropped him after game one.
The omission hurt Mitchell, who has represented NSW on only three occasions since. He said he was never given a reason for his axing.
Latrell Mitchell celebrates Alex Johnston’s try on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
“I was told I was going to play the next game, then told I wasn’t playing [through] the media,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t know why. I didn’t know anything. I felt like I played all right. I missed a couple of tackles but who knows. I don’t want to dwell on it now. Hopefully, game two, I’m there.
“I want to play for my state. I know what people want. We want to win. We have passion. The Queenslanders say we don’t but we do, if not more than them. I want to give back. I want to give back to the state and show them that I’m ready and raring to go.”
Mitchell has also been worried by the plight of South Sydney. He was suspended for a forearm to the face of Shaun Johnson two months ago, and the Rabbitohs slumped to the foot of the ladder. Mitchell vowed to put the club first and was concerned about the message it would send to teammates if he left to play Origin in their time of need.
“I felt like I owed Souths,” Mitchell said. “I wanted to make sure they knew that I didn’t put these weeks together and perform just to get myself back in an Origin jersey. That’s not the case at all. My teammates have actually been pretty convincing and encouraging me to play. They said, ‘Don’t worry about what’s going on here, just go and play’.
“That was pretty big from a few of my teammates to have that confidence. That showed me that I can go away and they want me to play. They turn into fans and that’s what I want. I want to make them proud, make the state proud, make my family proud. More so myself, make me proud. I deserve to be there, I think.”
Tune into the Sunday Footy Show from 11am for the full-length special feature with Latrell Mitchell.
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