Secret State of Origin meeting exposes Latrell Mitchell drama

Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Latrell Mitchell was nowhere to be seen as NSW coach Michael Maguire held a secret meeting with Blues stars this week.

Latrell Mitchell was nowhere to be seen as NSW coach Michael Maguire held a secret meeting with Blues stars this week.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph with the newspaper reporting Mitchell and Rabbitohs teammates Damien Cook and Cody Walker were among the most notable absentees when Maguire sat down with incumbent and prospective NSW players.

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With South Sydney’s season in crisis it looks increasingly likely the Bunnies will not be represented in Maguire’s Blues team for the 2024 State of Origin series opener against Queensland on June 5.

News Corp first reported Maguire, ahead of his first series in-charge, met with a large group of Sydney-based players, including some potential Origin debutants and left-field selections.

Blues captain James Tedesco attended the meeting, held at Blues HQ at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday night, among several other senior team figures, however, outside backs and forwards, not including hookers, were not invited.

Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook train. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

The so-called “spine” gathering of fullbacks, playmakers and No. 9s, was also attended by Cronulla duo Nicho Hynes and Blayke Brailey.

The Cronulla rake has emerged as an option to wear the No. 9, despite Tigers star Api Koroisau, Cook and Warriors star Wayde Egan appearing to be the front runners.

Mitchell Moses, Tom Trbojevic and Clint Gutherson were also present at the meeting.

Penrith stars Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Dylan Edwards were not in attendance and were taking time away during the club’s bye round.

The Rabbitohs trio of Mitchell, Cook and Walker were reportedly invited, but opted not to while focusing on trying to pull the club out of its form slump that has Jason Demetriou’s future as coach hanging by a thread.

The trio were caught between a rock and a hard place as to whether they attended or did not attend the Blues meeting just days ahead of the club’s loss to the Sharks on Saturday night.

Latrell Mitchell with former teammate James Tedesco this year. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

The first six weeks of the season couldn’t have gone any worse for a club that led the league after 11 rounds a year ago, but now sit at the foot of the table with just one win.

Mitchell’s hot-and-cold form has been put under the spotlight all year prior to his three-match suspension for striking Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson in the face.

The talented fullback made an apology to his teammates behind closed doors last week after a series of on-field incidents.

He seems increasingly at poor odds of missing out on a spot in the centres in Maguire’s team and has not made an appearance for NSW since 2021.

Trbojevic, Kotoni Staggs, Bradman Best, Stephen Crichton and even his own teammate Jack Wighton appear the more likely options.

Cook was overlooked for the season opener in 2023, but played the final two games for former coach Brad Fittler, including the Blues’ Game 3 win in Sydney.

Walker was also picked in the series finale, replacing Jarome Luai.

South Sydney has a bye in Round 7, and it appears likely coach Demetriou’s job will again be on the line when they face the Storm in Melbourne on Anzac Day.