NSW rocked before Origin series opener as second bombshell strikes

NSW has been rocked just days out from the Origin series opener with a second bombshell dropping on Monday morning.

Latrell Mitchell is gone. AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

NSW could be without its best two players for the State of Origin series opener as a second bombshell dropped on Monday morning.

It was carnage inside the Blues camp after the team first announced superstar centre Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out of Game 1 in Adelaide on Wednesday with a calf injury.

It has now emerged NSW is also worried about the fitness of halfback Nathan Cleary.

According to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, NSW utility Nicho Hynes has been told to prepare for the game as if he will be starting the game at halfback, replacing Cleary.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

According to the report, Cleary has an infected tooth and is in some doubt to play.

“It’s bad news too,” Weidler told 9News.

“There’s a watch on Nathan Cleary. He has a wisdom teeth problem. I’m anticipating he’ll be able to play with that issue.”

Bulldogs centre Matt Burton will join the team in Adelaide later today as 18th man.

Penrith’s Stephen Crichton will move into the starting side as a direct replacement for Mitchell in the centres.

Nathan Cleary is dealing with discomfort. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

It has been a week of disasters for the Blues after South Sydney’s Campbell Graham – who was originally named 18th man and has been the form centre in 2023 – withdrew from camp with a sternum injury.

The Blues were also holding their breath when star prop Payne Haas twisted his ankle at a training session last week.

If Cleary is cleared to play, Hynes will return to his position on the bench.

Mitchell sustained the injury at a training session on Sunday and scans later revealed a strain which would prevent him playing.

The 25-year-old is reported to have sat out the final minutes of the session. Assistant coach Paul McGregor spoke to reporters at the end of the session and played down the seriousness of Mitchell’s issue.

“I just looked at him and he’s got no ice. We’ve been swapping players in and out. The session was finished and we’re doing a bit of kick-catch and he just stopped,” McGregor said, according to the SMH.

Latrell Mitchell’s return date is not yet known. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“For me, he’s all right. I didn’t see anything major. Everyone’s got an issue at this time of year. We’re 12 weeks in.”

NSW coach Brad Fittler’s right-hand man Greg Alexander told The Daily Telegraph Mitchell was devastated when he learned he would miss the series opener.

“It was an emotional Latrell who told his teammates that he was out at the team hotel,’’ Alexander said.

“When it happened, I was watching him and I could tell straight away something wasn’t right.

“We sat down on Monday morning and had a chat and Latrell knew that he had to make the tough call.”

Bulldogs centre Matt Burton will join the team in Adelaide later today as 18th man.

Mitchell missed last year’s series with a hamstring injury and was one of the most dominant players in 2021 when he and Tom Trbojevic carved up the Maroons.

Latrell Mitchell training with NSW teammates in Sydney last week. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

The South Sydney fullback scored four tries in that series and would have been the backup goal kicker if anything happened to Nathan Cleary or Nicho Hynes.

There will have been celebrations within the Maroons camp when the news filtered through, but Queensland No. 9 Ben Hunt down-played how big a blow it is for the Blues’ hopes when asked about it on Monday morning.

“I just heard as I was coming off the field for training, I don’t think anything changes for us obviously he is a big loss for them,” Hunt said.

“Our focus has always been on what we can do... he definitely brought a lot of strike to their left edge and there’s no secrets about what Latrell can do.

Mitchell’s injury is also a big blow to South Sydney with a minor calf strain normally sidelining players for 1-3 weeks.