Latrell Mitchell wins NSW spot, Sharks pair axed

Latrell Mitchell will end a three-year State of Origin absence as Sharks pair Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes were the biggest casualties of coach Michael Maguire’s makeover to save the series in Melbourne.

Maguire has made five changes to the team which went down to Queensland in game one, with the fit-again Dylan Edwards, Mitchell Moses and Cameron Murray earning spots in the starting side.

Mitchell will replace the suspended Joseph Suaalii at centre and Roosters utility Connor Watson will make his Origin debut from the bench as NSW try to avoid a third straight series defeat next Wednesday night.

Hynes was the most notable omission at halfback for Parramatta’s Moses after an indifferent performance in the Blues’ series-opening loss in Sydney.

It’s the second straight year that Hynes has lost his spot in the NSW squad after a game one loss. Last year he was thrown on as a utility to defend at centre in Adelaide.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was McInnes dropping out of the 17 after a tireless performance in his Origin debut. He was the seventh-oldest debutant in Blues history.

Latrell Mitchell will return to the NSW fold.Credit: Getty Images

Maguire will keep McInnes as part of the Blues’ extended squad during preparations in the Blue Mountains.

But after dominating the NRL in the opening months of the season, third-placed Cronulla will be left without an Origin representative at the MCG as Maguire seeks the right mix to level the series.

Missing Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic for the entire series, Maguire was also without Edwards, Moses, Murray and Watson for game one through injury.

Edwards returns at fullback in place of James Tedesco, who replaced the Panthers custodian 72 hours out from the game after Edwards succumbed to a minor quad strain. The Clive Churchill Medal winner made a successful comeback in Penrith’s victory over the Knights in Newcastle on Sunday.

Watson will take the spot of Canberra’s Hudson Young on the bench with the Warriors’ Mitch Barnett named as the 18th man.

In an interview with the Herald on Sunday, Mitchell spoke about his eagerness to return to the Origin arena after missing the last two years through injury.

“I’m ready. I’m keen,” Mitchell told this masthead. “If Madge [Maguire] wants me, I’m in. I’m ready to go to Melbourne and give it to some Queenslanders.”

Edwards and Watson will be the sixth and seventh Origin rookies under Maguire this series.

Mitchell sat next to Maguire at the South Sydney 2014 premiership reunion on Saturday afternoon. Mitchell told Souths officials last month that he was considering withdrawing from Origin contention.

His chief concern was a belief he had been singled out for criticism by the state in previous campaigns. Mitchell was unsure whether he wanted to put himself back in that spotlight.

But after an impressive month of football, culminating in a convincing win over the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night, the Rabbitohs No.1 is ready to re-enter the Origin furnace.

“I wasn’t in the right headspace before game one,” he said. “At the same time, I was probably a bit filthy I didn’t get picked, to be honest. I was playing god there for a little bit. I didn’t know what I wanted. I played with fire a little bit. The doubt was there. I was scared about being thrown under the bus again. But now I know where I stand as a player. I’m ready to go if I get picked. I won’t let the state down.

“I just feel like I want people to protect me if shit hits the fan. That’s what I think Madge will do. I just felt like before, I was always the scapegoat. That it was just easier to go against me than with me. That’s why the doubt came back and I thought, ‘I don’t want to play, I don’t want to play’.

Connor Watson is back from a throat injury.Credit: Getty

“There’s so much bullshit about me and Origin when all I’ve ever done is win for Origin. I’ve given everything to NSW, the badge and the name on my back – my family. Not having that protection after, when shit hits the fan, that’s where the doubt crept in about going back and playing representative footy.”

Edwards and Watson will be the sixth and seventh Origin rookies under Maguire this series, with the latter completing an amazing comeback after missing all of last season with a serious knee injury.

Asked what it would mean to make his NSW debut before his selection was finally confirmed on Sunday night, Watson said: “Crazy. It would mean the world to me. Every kid dreams of it. As a kid, Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league and it meant so much to us.

“When I got back this year, I’ve always dreamt of playing it. To even be in those conversations, I thought, ‘this has come pretty quickly’. It just shows you how fast things move in footy. If you’re playing well, you just never know what can happen.”

Watch State of Origin exclusively Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.