State of Origin 2023: Latrell Mitchell injury news, NSW team latest

Alarm bells were ringing for NSW when it was announced Latrell Mitchell would miss State of Origin Game 1. But as Paul Crawley writes, there’s likely to be a silver lining.

Latrell Mitchell kicks during State of Origin.

• Mitchell ruled out of State of Origin Game I

Here is why NSW can be an even better team without Latrell Mitchell.

As silly as it might sound, the bombshell news of the superstar Rabbitoh’s withdrawal due to a calf injury can in fact become a huge advantage for Blues coach Brad Fittler on several fronts.

Not only should it inspire every other member of the NSW squad to take their game to the next level on Wednesday night, but it also takes the tally of Panthers in the Blues team to six — with Stephen Crichton joining Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o and Liam Martin.

Payne Haas, Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o during last year’s Origin series.

Add to that former Panther Api Koroisau is at dummy half, and another of their former club mates Matt Burton now comes in as 18th man.

Then you can throw in the fact that Billy Slater has even given Fittler the Blue-print on how to turn such a huge loss into a positive, after Queensland did just that last year to prove one superstar doesn’t make a team.

Latrell Mitchell crosses for a try during the 2021 State of Origin series.

Let’s remember the Maroons suffered just as big a blow with Cameron Munster’s shock withdrawal for last year’s series decider after the superstar five-eighth tested positive to Covid, along with winger Murray Taulagi, just days out from the game.

But that certainly didn’t stop Queensland producing one of Origin’s great upsets.

Even the bookmakers have been cautious not to overreact to Mitchell’s loss, with the Blues still favourites to kick the series off with a victory in Adelaide.

The TAB has only slightly adjusted the market with NSW moving out from $1.65 to $1.85, while Queensland remain clear outsiders, although coming in from $2.25 to $2.

In the Maroons case last year, Slater was forced to blood an Origin debutant in young Cowboy Tom Dearden to replace Queensland’s most important player.

But Dearden thrived under the pressure with a phenomenal performance.

Munster’s absence also lifted the players around him with Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Hunt and Kalyn Ponga standouts in the 22-12 victory.

For NSW it will be in-form Panther Crichton called in to take over Mitchell’s left centre spot.

The only minor issue is that at club level Crichton plays on the right edge alongside Blues winger To’o.

But Fittler could just as easily shift Tom Trbojevic to the left to partner Josh Addo-Carr (who is currently pencilled in to play right wing), depending on if Fittler wants to keep the Panthers’ club combination intact.

Whatever the case, what is paramount is that the Blues get over Mitchell’s loss as quickly as possible and focus on the positives.

When Munster was forced out last year almost every expert immediately wrote Queensland off in the decider.

The one thing you can guarantee here is that the Queenslanders won’t make the same mistake – because they know first-hand the next man up mentality has been the foundation of Origin folklore.