State of Origin: Brad Fittler’s startling NSW training admission, Latrell Mitchell’s Blues delay

The Blues will only hold just two field sessions before Game II, with Mitch Moses and Jarome Luai to lead the majority of team meetings. Keep up to date with the latest news from the Blues’ camp here.

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler. Picture: Getty Images

NSW coach Brad Fittler has made the startling admission that the Blues will have just two full training sessions in 10-days to finalise a winning game plan against Queensland.

Fittler’s raw honesty coincided with the coach admitting that new-look NSW halves Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai will lead the majority of team meetings and video sessions due to the restricted amount of on-field training the Blues will be able to conjure.

NSW are facing a slow build-up to Origin II with minimal field sessions as a result of several concerns over the fitness of their stars.

The team’s first engagement as a squad on Tuesday consisted of a “walking” field session at Coogee.

NSW are on edge about the fitness of centre Latrell Mitchell (calf), who isn’t allowed to begin running until Sunday.

Hard-running forward Liam Martin (concussion protocols) is also on restricted duties, with his final clearance unable to be rubber-stamped until next Tuesday.

Brad Fittler is preparing for a disrupted camp. Picture: Adam Yip

Blues forward Cameron Murray (quad) will also be on light duties this week.

Fittler added that the involvement of players from a King’s Birthday clash between the Eels and Bulldogs, has forced the state side into a scaled back preparation for the biggest game of the year.

“You don’t get a lot of time on the field and we’re a bit wounded so we’re going to get even less time on the field,’’ Fittler said.

“We had three boys (Josh Addo-Carr, Junior Paulo, Mitchell Moses) play yesterday, so the (NRL) scheduling didn’t help.

“We’ll be walking, at best, for a couple of days.

“We’ll most probably get two sessions with the full team.’’

Jarome Luai and Mitch Moses will run the majority of the Blues’ sessions. Picture: Richard Dobson

Fittler said it was imperative that both Moses and Luai take control of how the Blues want to play, both on the field and in the meeting rooms.

“They’ll have to do a lot more, because a lot of them haven’t heard from Mitchell a whole lot,’’ Fittler said.

“It was a couple of years ago (2021) that he played for us.’’

The NSW coach said he had full faith in Moses taking over the reigns of the Blues in the absence of an injured Nathan Cleary.

“I’ve always been a fan of Mitchell and watching him play yesterday gave me a lot of confidence,’’ Fittler said. “They’ve (Eels) had big games this year, they’ve beaten Penrith this year, they had an ordinary start but I feel like they don’t run away from a challenge, Parramatta.

“And Mitchell, he likes a challenge, he takes it on.’’

BROKEN BACK: WHY MOSES IS MADE FOR ORIGIN

– Fatima Kdouh

Don’t tell Mitchell Moses Origin means more to the Maroons than the Blues.

The Parramatta halfback turned up to Origin camp with a black eye and a decent cut on his head, but that’s nothing compared to what he went through in his one and only game for the Blues in 2021.

Moses played 70 minutes for NSW with a broken back, in a dead-rubber game, and he’s ready to put his body on the line again at Suncorp Stadium next week.

“I actually thought I broke my rib because it was painful. But I had to bite down on the mouth guard for 70 minutes, that’s all it was. You don’t want to let anyone down in those situations,” Moses said.

Mitchell Moses played with a broken back in his origin debut. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“Everyone plays through injuries. It’s not just me. When you put this jersey on you want to do anything possible to get the job done for your state. I guess, the back injury was just a little scenario that shows this jersey means as much to us as an Origin jersey means to the Queenslanders.”

Moses knew from the moment NSW star No.7 Nathan Cleary went down with a hamstring injury in round 14, there was going to be plenty of talk about him taking over as Blues halfback.

FRESH LATRELL DRAMA FOR FITTLER AND THE BLUES

– Fatima Kdouh

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell kept coach Fittler waiting on Tuesday morning.

Mitchell’s Blues teammates had all arrived by 10am to have their routine medical check-ups and jersey fittings.

The Blues centre, who was a late withdrawal from game one after he suffered a calf injury on the eve of the series opener, didn’t lob until just before 11.30am.

Mitchell dodged media arriving at the Crowne Plaza through the hotel’s underground car park.

South Sydney medical staff cleared Mitchell for game two at Suncorp Stadium, but the workload of Rabbitohs fullback is expected to be limited during this week’s preparations in Sydney.

Latrell Mitchell is back with the Blues after missing Origin I. Picture: Getty Images

NEW HALFBACK, FIVE CHANGES: FREDDY'S BLUES OVERHAUL OFFICIAL

It’s official, Mitchell Moses is the new Blues halfback.

NSW coach Brad Fittler has made five changes for State of Origin II and recalled the Parramatta No.7 in his team named on Tuesday morning.

Moses, who played one Origin game in 2021, torched Canterbury on Monday and is ready to light up Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week.

Wests Tigers’ Stefano Utoikamanu and North Queensland’s Reece Robson are the debutants, with the latter to replace Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes in the bench utility role.

Mitchell Moses has been recalled for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell Moses enters Blues camp. Picture: Adam Yip

Hynes and Canterbury’s Te­vita Pangai Jr have been dropped after the loss in Adelaide, while Nathan Cleary and Api Koroisau are unavailable through injury with Damien Cook the new hooker.

Canberra’s Hudson Young has retained his spot in the back row.

It comes after South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell was medically cleared to help the under-pressure Blues.

Moses, the man charged with saving the State of Origin series for NSW and the career of coach Brad Fittler, was one of the first players to arrive at Blues camp on Tuesday morning.

Fresh from Parramatta’s victory against Canterbury on Monday afternoon, Moses carpooled to the team hotel with former Wets Tigers teammate and close friend James Tedesco.

Moses was one of five changes Fittler has made for the Blues’ must win Origin game two at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.

The Eels playmaker won the race for Nathan Cleary’s no.7 jumper ahead of Cronulla’s Nicho Haynes and Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds. Cleary will miss the rest of the series with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for six weeks.

Junior Paulo strolls into Blues camp. Picture: Adam Yip

Tom Trbojevic arrives at Crown Plaza Coogee. Picture: Adam Yip

Hudson Young arrives at NSW State of Origin camp.

Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai and Moses were arch rivals in last year’s grand final.

But on Wednesday week western the Sydney rivals will join forces for a common goal at Suncorp Stadium.

Luai backed his new halves partner to own the big moments in game two.

“Yeah, I’m keen to connect with him. I have played against him a lot but I haven’t played beside him, so I’m keen,” Luai said.

“He’s been playing awesome this year. I’ve watched a lot of Parramatta and a lot of footy this year and he has really stepped up when he had needed to. I’m keen to play beside him.

Eels forward Junior Paulo said his club teammate deserved the call-up.

“Definitely excited about having Moey in the team. He has earned the right to be here,” Paulo said.

Canberra forward Hudson Young, whose spot in the Blues side was under threat, was spotted checking in at the Crowne Plaza just before 8am after flying into Sydney from the nation’s capital.

Originally published as State of Origin: Brad Fittler’s startling NSW training admission, Latrell Mitchell’s Blues delay