Latrell Mitchell has made a compelling case for a NSW State of Origin recall, starring as South Sydney made it three straight wins with a 22-12 defeat of Brisbane.
Just days before Michael Maguire names his side for Origin II, Mitchell was in everything – from the try-scorer’s lists to the sin-bin – as the Rabbitohs dominated at Accor Stadium.
The result also made it three straight defeats for Brisbane, who will now finish the round outside the top eight after falling behind 22-0 early in the second half.
On a historic Friday night for the Rabbitohs, Alex Johnston went second on the all-time try-scorers list when he went past Billy Slater with his 191st four-pointer.
Damien Cook also bagged an early try as he fights for his future at the club, while Cody Walker was sound at halfback and put a kick in for a Keaon Koloamatangi try.
But the main man was Mitchell, who will see Maguire at a Rabbitohs premiership reunion on Saturday after making his case to replace the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in NSW’s centres.
Mitchell’s first major impact came when he broke 80 metres downfield out of his own end early in the game, before being denied by Jordan Riki just short of the line.
After Cook and Koloamatangi each had tries, Mitchell had one of his own when he ran through Jock Madden and fellow NSW centre hopeful Kotoni Staggs to make it 18-0.
And when the Rabbitohs went down to 12 men before halftime after Richie Kennar was sin-binned for a high shot, it was Mitchell who denied the Broncos with a one-on-one strip.
Mitchell then laid on the last pass for Johnston’s milestone try after the break, sending a cut-out ball that hit the winger on the chest and ensured him an easy passage to the line.
The only thing to stop the fullback was the sin-bin, after he ran in and escalated a melee following a hit from Riki on Cameron Murray off the ball.
Murray otherwise got through his return game from a hip injury unscathed, enhancing his chanced of winning back his NSW jersey.
Mitchell has not played for NSW since he was arguably their best in the 2021 series victory, with injuries derailing his hopes in the two seasons since.
But he is viewed by many Queenslanders as the man they hope the Blues do not pick.
Brisbane have concerns of their own after another unhappy night in their first match back at Accor Stadium since last year’s grand final heartbreak.
A 65 per cent completion rate meant they spent the majority of the night at their own end, as they desperately missed Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds’ composure.
Reynolds is not due back from his injured biceps until round 22, and the Broncos must hang on until that point.
Their two tries both came through Deine Mariner, but those were in the final 15 minutes with the game over.
Source Agencies
