Latrell Mitchell forced to cop ‘unhinged’ Origin ultimatum

Latrell Mitchell is dominating the NRL but still he’s been forced to cop an ultimatum if he wants to take his place in the NSW Blues side.

Latrell has stated his Origin case.

COMMENT

Latrell Mitchell will not be picked for NSW until he burns Arthur Beetson’s jersey on live TV while drinking the blood of a cane toad.

Then he must face the Harbour Bridge and pledge allegiance to the state before saluting a plane overhead as it sky-writes “NSW 4 LYF”.

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Yep, the narrative has continued to emerge from NSW camp that Mitchell will not be recalled to the Blues until he proves his commitment by begging for his spot back.

For some reason, Michael Maguire thinks he can make such demands despite the state being 1-0 down and staring at a third consecutive year trapped in a pitch black dystopia.

In the coach’s eyes, it remains unclear if Mitchell is interested in representing his state, even though the superstar has beaten up on two Queensland clubs in the last fortnight and declared on Instagram he “bleeds Blue”.

Latrell Mitchell continued his stunning run of form against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It’s an ultimatum that’s unhinged even by Blues standards, one that appears even more nuts after the fullback’s sizzling form continued last night against the Broncos.

And if NSW is any chance of hauling its sorry backside off the canvas, it’s gotta flip the script on this bizarre standoff.

Put simply, Maguire needs to quit acting like a diva and drop all the trivial caveats on Mitchell’s Origin recall, because we need him more than he needs us.

In fact, instead of putting the onus on the Rabbitoh to prove his undying love to the state, the coach himself should be the one spamming his phone with begging and forgiveness.

Why?

Because our attack is so clueless it thinks a tackle bust is a burst zipper, and secondly, beggars can’t be choosers.

Coach Michael Maguire (R) has a big call to make. Picture Thomas Lisson.

The Blues need Mitchell’s swag, we need his points, and for heaven’s sake, we need him to put something in to Queensland they haven’t felt since the rum tax, and that’s a lump of fear in their pantaloons.

Andrew Johns agrees, declaring on the Sunday Footy Show “Latrell just has to come in – there are no ifs or buts.”

“There’s all rumours floating around that something happened pre-camp and he wasn’t talking to Madge or didn’t turn up or something. Who cares?

“Just get him in there.“

Yep, NSW has employed some whacky strategies over time, but never has a player’s suitability been contingent on a coach refusing to ‘call him until he calls me.’

Sure, we get Maguire is trying to instill an ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’ mantra, and fair play to him.

But let’s be real, John F. Kennedy was backed by the biggest military in the free world when he uttered this famous rally cry, not a squadron so meek he had to play Hudson Young in the centres.

Latrell Mitchell has stated his Origin case.

Origin is more nuanced than a simple state-before-self ethos, and that’s probably why Maguire and JFK both played a grand total of zero Origins.

With the series on the line - if not already gone - it’s no time for Maguire to be quibbling over manners and feelings.

Nor is it time to be hung up on some throwaway quote from Mitchell about potentially withdrawing from Origin a lifetime ago, one the fullback has since quashed by reassuring he’s “always committed to playing for NSW”.

And most notably, it’s definitely no time for the coach to be a prisoner to his own ego.

Maguire must swallow his pride and consider what the state can do for Latrell, if only before Queensland does something to the state.

And besides, why is the Rabbits talisman being forced to jump through hoops for his jersey anyway?

In NSW’s notorious history of selections, nobody else has been forced to beg for their position, especially on a team with all the cutting edge of a cankle.

NSW selectors have chased bolters along the ocean floor to hand out jerseys, and even picked a shocked bloke from obscurity to captain the state.

But for some reason Latrell needs to pledge his soul at the lord’s altar just to get a mention.

No wonder this state is on the fritz.

Apparently Mitchell and Maguire will cross paths this afternoon at South Sydney’s 10 year premiership reunion.

Here’s hoping Latrell is carrying a lighter and a cane toad.

- Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He’s never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell forced to cop ‘unhinged’ Origin ultimatum