State of Origin: Valentine Holmes insists he won’t be bullied by a recalled Latrell Mitchell in game two

Valentine Holmes has been dealt the monstrous task of stopping Latrell Mitchell in Origin II, however the Maroons star has vowed to get “in his face” and insisted he can tame the Blues beast.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 05: Valentine Holmes of the Maroons is tackled during game one of the 2024 Men's State of Origin Series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Valentine Holmes is the Queenslander with the toughest job in Origin II – stopping NSW superstar and Maroons bogeyman Latrell Mitchell.

But Holmes insists he won’t be bullied by Mitchell and has vowed to get “in his face” as Queensland hierarchy conceded they are “nervous” about the Blues centre being unstoppable in his Origin recall.

Mitchell will be unleashed in the left-centre slot next Wednesday night and speedy Queensland three-quarter Holmes is the man tasked with taming the Blues beast at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Holmes has vivid memories of Mitchell’s last stint in sky-blue – a 2021 campaign in which the South Sydney superstar tore the Maroons apart to spearhead NSW’s 2-1 series win.

At the time, Holmes played the opening two games at fullback before shifting to the wing for Game Three, but now the Cowboys centre will directly oppose one of the most destructive attackers in rugby league.

Holmes has witnessed Latrell from close range – the pair were backline teammates in Australia’s 2022 World Cup final win – and the Maroons centre is backing himself to muzzle Mitchell at the MCG.

Valentine Holmes has vowed he won’t be bullied by Latrell Mitchell in Origin II. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I have played alongside him (for Australia) so I know he is pretty dangerous when he attacks the line,” Holmes said.

“It is a while since he has played in the Origin arena so we will try and get to him in ways that slow him up a bit.

“In club footy, when I play centre and he is fullback, he sweeps around the back, so you try and make decisions on him.

“It has not been centre-on-centre for me because he (Mitchell) hasn’t really played centre when I have played it.

“I have just got to be in his face and make my tackles.”

Mitchell has missed the past two series due to injury, but his 2021 campaign for the Blues represented one of the most brilliant personal performances in Origin’s 44-year history.

The Blues strike weapon set the tone by starring in a 50-6 rout in Townsville, handing Queensland the worst loss in their proud history.

Latrell Mitchell was one of the Blues’ most electric players in 2021, his last Origin campaign. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Mitchell finished the series with four tries and 24 points from three games, plus 31 runs, 419 metres, three line breaks and 17 tackle busts in a ruthless mauling of the Maroons.

That is the matchwinning power Holmes must somehow halt, and why Queensland selector Darren Lockyer believes the return of Mitchell will make NSW a more potent attacking force.

“It looks like (NSW) has more points in their side … the big one is Latrell,” Channel 9 expert Lockyer said.

“They have some definite X-factor just in one player now, whereas I thought the first game, what they chose was all about getting into an arm wrestle and trying to win that battle of attrition.

“But Latrell brings that nervousness where he can do something that we can’t stop.”

It’s set to be an enthralling matchup between two of Origin’s superstars. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Holmes is equally wary of Mitchell’s presence in defence, where he can use his imposing 106kg frame to intimidate Maroons fullback Reece Walsh on backman plays.

Mitchell has made a home at Souths at fullback but Holmes believes the Rabbitohs champion will have no issues recalibrating his attacking instincts at centre.

“I think he is a classy player who will get back into the swing of things,” Holmes said.

“You have got to make more defensive reads at centre but he is such a big boy and is a good mover who can back himself to make those tackles.

“He is pretty aggressive so he will probably come out and look to jam ‘Walshy’ and get into our back-five early.

“We have to be wary of that and make him work a bit more than he does at Souths.”

Originally published as State of Origin: Valentine Holmes insists he won’t be bullied by a recalled Latrell Mitchell in game two