State of Origin: Bradman Best replaces Latrell Mitchell for Blues, Mitch Barnett called up
Bradman Best will make his return to the Blues team to replace the injured Latrell Mitchell in the centres, while Warriors’ marathon man Mitch Barnett will get his shot off the bench. FULL SQUAD
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The Blues’ BB guns – Best and Barnett – have been hauled together to fire the bullets in NSW’s desperate bid to regain State of Origin supremacy at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW coach Michael Maguire has made two changes for the July 17 decider with Newcastle’s Bradman Best replacing centre Latrell Mitchell while Warriors hard man Mitch Barnett dislodged Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu.
Barnett and Best were Knights’ teammates between 2020 and 2022.
Maguire named a powerful squad with Jake Trbojevic to lead his state once again and Parramatta’s Mitch Moses retaining the halfback spot.
Best, 22, beat out multiple candidates after Mitchell was declared unavailable through a foot injury sustained against Parramatta on Thursday night.
A strong performer for Newcastle against Canberra on Sunday afternoon, Best made his NSW debut in game three last year, scoring two tries in a memorable Blues’ win. He was unavailable for game one this year through injury.
Other centre contenders included Manly’s Tom Trbojevic, Canterbury’s Matt Burton and returning Sydney Roosters star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Burton was again unlucky given his back-to-back heroics for Canterbury. In his first game back on Saturday from a seven-game absence with a hamstring injury, Trbojevic logged 70 metres from 13 runs.
But Best was Maguire’s best option.
Origin debutant Barnett has been part of NSW’s extended squad for both games this year and assumed 18th man duties for Melbourne.
He will bring a relentless toughness to the Suncorp Stadium cauldron.
With his Warriors side struck down by injury, Barnett produced an epic 81-minute effort against Canterbury on Saturday.
Olakau’atu would be entitled to feel aggrieved but only posted two runs for 22 metres at the MCG.
Maguire understandably retained a large chunk of the side which dominated Queensland in Victoria.
No extra players were listed on Sunday but three players to be added by midday Monday.
Queensland appeared to enjoy a stranglehold over the series after an emphatic win in Sydney before NSW crushed the Maroons in game two.
NSW’s first half at the MCG – where the Blues scored 34 unanswered points – was arguably the greatest half of Origin football ever played.
Queensland will announce their side on Monday.
NSW will complete media commitments on Monday before shifting their pre-game base to Leura in the Blue Mountains.
Mitchell’s withdrawal pushed Queensland into $1.74 favouritism according to TAB. NSW is the $2.10 outsider.
While considered for selection, Suaalii has not played for four weeks through a suspension incurred after a high shot on Queensland’s Reece Walsh in Origin I.
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