Latrell Mitchell wins the battle with Will Chambers in his State of Origin
QUEENSLAND’S grub-in-chief Will Chambers did his best to get under Latrell Mitchell’s skin durign Origin I but the Blues youngster wouldn’t have it and got the last laugh.
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LOOK who’s laughing now, Will.
NSW try-scoring sensation Latrell Mitchell has told how he outsmarted niggling Queensland rival Will Chambers during his State of Origin debut — by simply laughing in his face.
Mitchell, 20, has emerged as a Blues hero after Wednesday night’s 22-12 victory over the Maroons, with fans relishing the idea the indigenous centre could have the same decade-long domination on the Origin scene like his idol, Greg Inglis.
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Despite being 10 years younger than Chambers, Mitchell revealed a superior maturity and mental edge by refusing to bite on the Maroons centre’s persistent baiting.
Chambers is renowned throughout the NRL as a player who thrives on getting under the skin of his opponent.
But it failed miserably on Wednesday night.
Not only was he charged with a grade one dangerous contact charge for his high-knee thrust into the chest of Blues hooker Damien Cook, but Chambers missed a staggering 10 tackles, dropped the ball with the try line wide open and was left with egg on his face as the rookie Blue powered past him to score a brilliant try as he refused to buckle to any intimidation.
LISTEN! Nick Campton and Tim Williams tackle all the news from Origin I, including player rating debacles, changes that need to be made and all the details from the match itself.
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Chambers went after Mitchell during a play-the-ball in the first half, shoving the young Roosters star before then having a second crack on halftime — this time, by grabbing Mitchell’s collar.
Television cameras flashed to Mitchell, who was laughing at Chambers as the players left the field.
“Yeah, it makes him angrier,” Mitchell said
“He does it every game, it doesn’t matter, it’s just how he plays and how he goes about things.
“I was just stoked to go out there and play against him.
“I was too focused on my team (to bite back at Chambers).
“It was just a bit of niggle — that’s footy, you just leave it on the field and you’re good mates after.
“It’s good banter.’’
Mitchell answered his critics in Origin I — many of whom were adamant he would be exposed defensively.
After the match he admitted it was his teammates who helped lift and guide him through the gruelling 80 minutes and to a dreamy Origin debut.
“It was more than I ever expected,’’ Mitchell said.
“I can’t explain how I felt out there. It’s a childhood dream come true.
“I’ve never defended with Jimmy Maloney inside me and (Josh) Addo-Carr on my outside, but I knew I had Boyd, so that was comforting to have him.
“You know he’s going to through that pressure.
“I felt like we defended really well, but we can obviously take it to another level by working on those combinations.
“I felt like I went to another level tonight.
“I’ve set the standard now, I’ve got to take it back to the club and exert all I did into my teammates on the weekend.
“It’s a mental game, what I did tonight and I had to battle, I was struggling — but my teammates got me through it.
“Boyd was talking me up, Addo-Carr, Jimmy Maloney, you create energy off energy so I was stoked the boys were in my head the whole game.’’