Test coach Mal Meninga would not have dropped Latrell Mitchell had he been NSW coach
Putting on his Queensland hat, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says he would not have dropped Latrell Mitchell for Origin II, saying ‘if it’s purely on form I still would have chosen him’.
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Mal Meninga has thrown his considerable support behind dumped NSW star Latrell Mitchell, declaring the youngster’s axing for State of Origin II would “absolutely not” impact his chances of playing for Australia at the end of the season.
The Kangaroos coach also weighed into the debate about whether it was the right call to drop the player widely regarded as the best centre in the game for Sunday night’s clash in Perth.
Meninga said if the decision was based purely on Mitchell’s performance for the Blues in game one, as we have been told it was, he still would have picked him.
“From a Queensland perspective, yeah, I would have. If it was purely form,” Meninga said.
“It is a different scenario for us (in Queensland). We pick and stick because we believe that is the right philosophy.”
But Meninga did not criticise Blues coach Brad Fittler’s decision because he wasn’t aware if there was more to what we’ve been told publicly.
“That is a difficult question,” Meninga said.
“It is depending on what is happening behind the scenes. I’m not quite sure what the personal reasons are.”
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson was adamant after Mitchell’s two-try effort against Canterbury last Sunday that there was not more going on than has been revealed.
Mitchell has been struggling with off-field distractions this year after a bitter split with his previous management and speculation about his long-term future.
In an exclusive interview, Mitchell said there was no truth to reports of an $11 million offer from Canterbury.
Mitchell is contracted at the Roosters until the end of 2020 but he can accept a deal beyond that at a rival club from November 1.
Asked if Mitchell’s axing from the Blues squad would impact his chances of playing for Australia at the end of the season, Meninga was emphatic: “No, absolutely not.
The crew try to get their heads around the Blues selection policy for Origin II and ask if it’s a version of the Simpsons “Homermobile” plus Latrell Mitchell’s future and Matty goes to the movies.
“He is obviously going through a tough time at the moment. But that doesn’t mean to say he is less talented and that he is not going to make an impact with the Roosters through the rest of the year.
“I’d imagine he will get stronger out of all this and the Roosters will benefit from that.
“He is the incumbent centre for Australia, so from my point of view he is well in the picture.”
Australia has a Prime Minister’s match against Fiji this year, followed by the World Nines and Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.