Latrell Mitchell is ready to move on from Las Vegas scandal with Spencer Leniu in Blues camp

Latrell Mitchell and Spencer Leniu have met in Blues camp for the first time since the racism furore that engulfed the NRL in round 1, and the Rabbitohs star says he is happy to sit down with his NSW teammate and let bygones be bygones.

Latrell Mitchell says he has let bygones be bygones with Spencer Leniu after the pair met in NSW camp on Monday for the first time since fall out over the Las Vegas racism scandal.

The Blues centre was vocal in his support of a lengthy ban for the Sydney Roosters forward after he used a racial slur towards Broncos star Ezra Mam in the NRL season opener in the US.

At the time Mitchell spoke passionately on behalf of himself and the Indigenous community about the impact of Leniu’s words, for which he then served an eight game suspension.

Four months on, Mitchell has been recalled to the Blues squad for Origin II in Melbourne alongside Leniu, who has been named on the bench.

Latrell Mitchell is thrilled to be back in Origin camp. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Speaking on day one of camp on Monday, Mitchell said he and Leniu will speak but he’s ready to move on.

“Yeah 100 per cent, but this is now, the reflection is all done, we’ve put it behind us, the NRL has dealt with it and we’ve got to move forward,” he said.

“I’ve got a job to do. Me and him will talk and just let bygones be bygones. The lessons have been learnt and we’ll go from there.”

Thrilled to be back in camp for the first time since 2021, the 27-year-old received a call from coach Michael Maguire on his birthday on Sunday night telling him he’d been selected.

It comes after he was available but was overlooked for Origin I in Sydney a fortnight ago, which he admits “burns”.

“It always burns. But I’m here now and I’m happy,” he said.

Mitchell is popular with young fans. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Of watching the series opener, a 38-10 loss to Queensland, he said: “It was hard, there was a lot of bravery, a lot of confidence taken out of that game, to go down to 12 men and to play the way they still did, it is nothing short of amazing. It’ll be interesting with 13 players to have a good crack.”

He will slot in at centre for the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii but rejects the idea there’s any pressure on him to perform to save the series in Melbourne.

“I think if you just let me play footy I might amaze you, so just let me go,” he said.

“I think I deserve to be here, It’s my arena and I enjoy it, I really do. I love playing in front of fans with such passion for NSW and it’s about bringing that back.

“I’m going in to play and have fun and enjoy myself. I appreciate it honestly, I do, but if I put pressure on myself now I focus on that all week and then all the preparation goes out the window.

“For me it’s just about creating bonds, getting up to the Blue Mountains and rugging up and then going from there.

“I’m ready to go.”