It’s taken three years, but Latrell Mitchell is back – and so are the Blues

Want to know the best way to understand the modern-day rugby league player? Instagram.

Figure out The Gram, figure out what makes them tick.

Shortly after Latrell Mitchell elbowed Shaun Johnson in the head and South Sydney shoved their coach Jason Demetriou out the door, the NRL’s most polarising player thumbed his way onto the social media behemoth. It’s nothing new; Mitchell is a habitual poster about family, footy, golf, business, his people.

But there was also another subtle change which told you all you need to know about Latrell 2.0. His bio, probably not even in jest, always used to read: part-time footy player, full-time farmer.

While sitting idle through suspension, Mitchell returned a new man with a new Instagram bio: full-time footy player, part-time farmer.

And what a footy player when it’s his full-time focus.

Latrell Mitchell celebrates scoring for the Blues.Credit: Getty Images

Some coaches never seemingly know how to get the best out of Mitchell. They tread on eggshells, use kid gloves, give him a cuddle, rarely a kick. NSW coach Michael Maguire put himself out there for Mitchell, and deserves praise for it.

So desperate to get the best out of Mitchell in his return to the Origin arena for the first time in three years, Maguire waded into the murky waters of the media game. He made the build-up to game two all about him and opposite Billy Slater with a deliberate line about “glass houses”, aimed squarely between the eyes of his former player at the Storm. Even in his final press conference at Federation Square, eight days after his little left-right combo, the glass houses line was still going. Maguire was barely asked about Mitchell.

At the MCG on Wednesday night, Mitchell finally let his football – rather than his coach – do the talking.

“When you’ve got the calibre of players around someone like Latrell, it allows him to go and do what he needs to do,” Maguire said. “Rather than singling out one player … Latrell’s a great player and we all know that.

“Where he’s at at the moment and how he’s playing his footy, it’s great when everyone else plays their part it allows Latrell to shine and do all the things we admire.”

It wasn’t without the usual plot twists.

He whacked Xavier Coates with a high tackle as he surged down on the Queensland winger only minutes into the second half. NSW were leading 34-0 at the time. It won’t escape the NRL’s match review committee. Reece Walsh came in for particular attention, shoved off the ball and shattered when he had it.

It shouldn’t mask what was a virtuoso first-half performance from the 27-year-old, who has a rare gift of mixing beauty and brutality.

The beauty was the flick pass from his left hand for the first of two Brian To’o first-half tries, Mitchell’s presence enough to catch the wandering eye of Maroons winger Xavier Coates, who sought to help his centre partner Valentine Holmes. With a swivel of the wrist, Mitchell fooled them all.

“He’s a good player,” Slater shrugged. “No one denies that. When you’re playing against a fatigued footy team, it helps.”

Mitchell scored before half-time himself when Angus Crichton popped an offload for a marauding Dylan Edwards, who in turn sent Mitchell careening over. He booted the ball so far into the bleachers of the MCG, a cathartic experience for years of Origin frustration. Mitchell was back, NSW moreso.

It might even make a good pic on The Gram. The farm can wait.

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