Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett opens up about his season-ending knee injury and missing Origin

Mitch Barnett should have been playing for NSW on Wednesday night. Instead, he had undergone surgery just hours before kick-off. He speaks to MICHAEL CARAYANNIS about the road back.

Just hours after his season ending knee injury Mitch Barnett was sitting on his lounge chair cheering on the Blues. As luck would have it, Barnett had his operation on Wednesday on the same day he should have been preparing to play Origin II.

The Warriors co-captain sums it up best.

“I went from the penthouse to the sh**house pretty quickly,” Barnett said from his Auckland home.

Things were almost going too perfectly for Barnett. He was co-captaining the Warriors to a likely top four finish having made his NSW and Australian debut last year.

Barnett was in career-best form and produces his best Origin performance to help NSW beat Queensland 18-6.

Mitch Barnett has undergone surgery for a torn ACL. Picture: NRL Photos

Just four days later his rugby league world came to a shattering halt when his leg collided with teammate Chanel Harris-Tavita while the pair attempted to make a tackle on South Sydney’s Jayden Sullivan in the 21st minute.

“I didn’t see it because I was making a tackle,” Barnett said.

“My brain had an image of what went on in my head. It was weird.

“I knew straight away it was bad.

“I tried getting up but my leg kept giving way. I hurt it really bad but the pain went away. I was like ‘I could walk this off’. I tried to walk it off but my leg kept buckling.

“Then I knew it was no good. They had an interchange ready to go so I went off the back.

“I knew it was bad. I went in the sheds and the doctor did some tests and the ACL was their fear straight away. They are accurate usually. I got the scan the next day to confirm.”

In the Sydney Olympic Park dressing sheds, Barnett kept a brave face. It wasn’t until he had some time to himself that he was overcome with emotion.

“I wasn’t in tears in the sheds,” Barnett said.

“When I had some moments to myself at home, I was really emotional.

“It was good to let it out because I could process it. After a couple of days I’d gotten over the emotion side of it and I was ready to start working out what’s next to start the journey.

“I was shattered because where I’m at in my career.

“I was flying. I thought I contributed well in Brisbane for NSW.

“Life was so good with how we were going at the Warriors. It was all coming together for me but then in a split second it was all dumped on its head.

“In hindsight I wish I didn’t back up but I was always going to back up because I pulled up sweet from Origin.”

Barnett made his starting debut for the Blues in Game 1. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The injury ruled him out of Origin II.

The Blues hierarchy have kept close tabs on Barnett with coach Laurie Daley and NSW high performance manager Frank Ponissi reaching out while Barnett was still in the sheds after suffering the injury. Daley has asked Barnett to try to get to game three.

As fate had it, Barnett underwent surgery when he should have been preparing for Origin II. A combination of swelling needing to subside and the surgeon’s schedule meant Barnett was only operated on this week.

“I watched it even though I wasn’t in great shape,” Barnett said.

“I was there with ice on my knee and my leg up in the recliner. There wasn’t too much going on in my head because the pain was through the roof.

“I was cheering on the Blues because I am always a NSW supporter.”

Barnett was having a career-best start to the season. Picture: NRL Photos

Barnett has already started to plot his comeback and wants to be back on the field by round one next year. At 31, he is adamant he will return to his best having overcome a career threatening neck injury in 2023 to make his representative debut last year.

“This isn’t a bad injury when you compare it to the neck,” Barnett said.

“It’s a longer recovery. I love playing footy and I’ll keep playing as long as I am playing well. People have had this injury later in their careers than what I have.

“I feel like I’m a later bloomer with footy now after I had my neck fixed.

“I’ll be shooting for the stars when I’m back – playing for NSW and Australia again and getting the Warriors to be in an even better position than where we are now.

“(This year) I’ll be investing some more time into the young fellas and be around to help mentor them.”

Originally published as Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett opens up about his season-ending knee injury and missing Origin