State of Origin | Blues star Latrell Mitchell’s nightmarish brain fade

From best in the world to an Origin walk of shame in front of 50,000 cheering Queenslanders — much has changed in a month for Latrell Mitchell.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 05: Latrell Mitchell of the Blues reacts after a tackle during game one of the 2019 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 05, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

At the start of May, Latrell Mitchell was earning plaudits of the highest order after almost single-handedly destroying the Wests Tigers in a 42-12 rout for the Sydney Roosters.

Fast forward four weeks and Mitchell, so dominant for NSW in 2018, had a night to forget for NSW, struggling to perform to his usual dominant standard in the centres before being sin-binned midway through the second half.

Former Blues coach Phil Gould was particularly disappointed in Mitchell’s display, lashing his performance after the match.

“He has to decide whether he wants to be at this level and wants to play. He can’t come here as key member of the side and have a poor input,” Gould said on Channel 9.

Mitchell said he felt “sick” and that he let his teammates down after his sin-binning proved a turning point in the 18-14 loss.

“I was a bit sick because I know I let the boys down a little bit, I knew they had to work a bit harder with one less man,” Mitchell said.

“It’s pretty disappointing on my behalf because I know I should have got there a bit quicker. I just didn’t want to hesitateon my decision.”

The 21-year-old Roosters star was a shining light for the Blues in 2018 but barely fired a shot against his sparring partner from last year Will Chambers — who stared down pre-game suggestions his Origin career was on the line.

While the Maroons’ centre finished the night with 118 running metres and 18 tackles, Mitchell could only post 10 tackles and 72 metres.

Chambers made sure he reminded Mitchell of his presence during one moment in the first half when he crash-tackled his rivaland gave him a verbal spray as he lay on top of the prone NSW man.

Mitchell’s awful outing hit rock bottom when he was pulled up for a professional foul on Matt Gillett in the 58th minute.

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Mitchell grabbed the Queensland forward near his neck as he raced to pick up a kick on the tryline. The home side was denied a penalty try, but was at least granted the privilege of playing against 12 men when Ashley Klein sent Mitchell to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Will Chambers stared down Latrell Mitchell. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mitchell endured a jog off the pitch as jeers rained down from the stands. While he sat out his 10 minutes, the Maroons made NSW pay with Gagai snaffling an intercept and sprinting away for a length-of-the-field try that put Queensland in front for the first time on the night.

Mitchell refused to criticise referee Gerard Sutton’s decision to sin bin him. “Sutton has his job to do and I’m not going to put my two cents in,” Mitchell said. “It happened and I didn’t want to hesitate and let Gillett go and score a try.”

Within minutes of returning to the field, Mitchell was again unable to stop another raid on NSW’s left wing with Gagai divingover for his second of the night to put the home team firmly in command of the match.

Jake Trbojevic’s late try gave NSW hope and reduced Queensland’s lead to four points and, with two minutes to play, Mitchell had the moment to turn his forgettable night into a memorableone.

He looked destined to sprint clear and steal a win for the Blues but impressive Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga came across incover to halt his charge and the moment was lost — as was the game.

“We did too much thinking and we need more action,” Mitchell said. “That connection should build by itself. I know we have that connection subconsciously, we need to get Cody into the game and playing his natural footy, because he’s the best at it. It’s one of those games, it just didn’t go our way.”

Fans took aim at the disappointing display, with some labelling it the rising star’s worst professional game.

Professional foul! Latrell Mitchell is in the bin.

Should this have been a penalty try? 🧐

Watch LIVE: @Channel9
Stream LIVE: https://t.co/YFxoZfj55r #9WWOS #Origin pic.twitter.com/Hk3OvcvEgC

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 5, 2019

First half was misleading for Blues fans. Left side defence has been woeful. QLD were unlucky to have a few first half tries. NSW found out big time in the second half. Latrell’s worst game. #Origin

— Matt Attard (@mattard90) June 5, 2019

I would prefer it if Latrell Mitchell stayed off the field to be really honest #Origin

— Evin Priest (@EvinPriest) June 5, 2019

It was the first time in Origin history a team has had three players sin-binned in three consecutive games, going back to games two and three in 2018 with James Maloney and James Roberts.