Latrell Mitchell and NRL headed for showdown over State of Origin availability

Latrell Mitchell’s bid to save South Sydney’s disastrous season has hit a roadblock, with the NRL set to reject any attempt for him to opt out of the State of Origin series.

Latrell Mitchell. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Latrell Mitchell is facing another row with the NRL — this time over his availability to play in the upcoming State of Origin series.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar is under consideration to play for NSW against Queensland this year, but there have been reports he may try to stand down from the series.

Mitchell wants to repay the Rabbitohs for supporting him during a three-week suspension and not miss any games during the eight-week Origin campaign.

However, the NRL has confirmed clubs have an obligation to release players for representative football. Players are also obliged to make themselves available if selected.

At this stage, no one has contacted the NRL regarding not being available to play in Origin.

The only exceptions are medical issues, or if veteran players who decide to retire from representative football. But they can’t pick and choose when they might be eligible for selection.

This has always been the case.

Latrell Mitchell has reportedly ruled himself out of Origin consideration. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Last year, Jack Wighton had to announce his retirement from representative football so he could continue playing club football with Canberra during the Origin series. He was also ruled ineligible for the end-of-year international matches.

Queensland’s Kalyn Ponga was overlooked for Origin I last year after missing five of the opening eight weeks of the NRL season due to concussion issues. He wasn’t considered for the remainder of the series on medical grounds.

Whether Mitchell would be picked for NSW is the grey area.

His only chance of being picked by new coach Michael Maguire would be in the centres, but he has Manly’s Tom Trbojevic and Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton ahead of him at this stage, as well as Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Newcastle’s Bradman Best.

Maguire recently held an Origin get-together for possible Blues candidates, but Mitchell and Rabbitohs teammate Cody Walker chose not to attend because of their commitment to South Sydney in an important game week.

Maguire plans on sitting down with Mitchell in the near future to talk over the situation.

The Rabbitohs sit last on the NRL ladder with one win from their opening seven matches, and will be impacted by two of the three Origin matches.

Latrell Mitchell at South Sydney training. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Although they have the bye in Round 13 before the series opener, the Rabbitohs host a Round 16 clash with Manly on the Saturday before game two, and then travel to Redcliffe to play the Dolphins in Round 19, prior to game three.

Although dependent on form, the Rabbitohs are expected to lose Cameron Murray (NSW) and Jai Arrow (Queensland) to Origin, with Mitchell, Walker and Keaon Koloamatangi also in the selection frame for the Blues.

The NRL rule regarding players making themselves available for Origin is part of all standard NRL playing contracts and designed to stop clubs from trying to influence their players to bypass representative matches in favour of club matches.