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Laurie Daley’s hopes of winning Origin III with NSW could hinge on Latrell Mitchell and his injured back surviving a training session with South Sydney on Monday.
Daley would have enjoyed the performance of Penrith back-rower Liam Martin on Saturday night, followed by Tom Trbojevic’s classy return for Manly – but arguably the Blues’ biggest selection gamble will hinge on what happens to Mitchell at Rabbitohs training at Heffron Park.
Should he not be fit, Mitchell will miss Souths’ clash against Parramatta, and be unavailable for the July 8 Origin decider.
There has been no shortage of debate about what Daley needs to do to win the final game following the MCG horror show on Wednesday.
Experienced campaigners Martin and Trbojevic have plenty of external support to be added, while Mitchell has the potential to terrorise the Maroons’ right-edge combination of Rob Toia, Briton Nikora, Sam Walker and Jojo Fifita, if cleared to play.
Mitchell has not played since pulling up with back stiffness at Magic Round, but trained strongly on Saturday. Provided his body holds together on Monday, he will return against Parramatta on Thursday night. If he makes it through the Eels game, Mitchell’s name will be difficult to ignore when Daley and his team pick their squad next Monday.
Manly’s Tolu Koula and Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs were the starting centres in game two. Hooker Reece Robson and Newcastle’s Dylan Lucas have also been touted as possible casualties, or at the very least relegated to the extended bench.
Souths star Mitchell was one of the best players in the competition for a run of games earlier this season, including his performance against Newcastle when he almost single-handedly delivered the Rabbitohs an epic come-from-behind win against the Knights. That afternoon, Mitchell was almost in tears at half-time because of the pain in his back.
The only concern for Daley would be Mitchell’s lack of match fitness. But even at 90 per cent, Mitchell’s physical presence and ability to produce something on the big stage may make it worth the gamble.
One player who looked like he had not missed any game time was Trbojevic, whose timing, pass selection and defence were outstanding for the Sea Eagles, even though they lost in golden point to the Bulldogs.
Trbojevic had missed the previous seven matches with injury, only to play an entire game at fullback against Canterbury.
He has already played centre for the Blues, and his club coach, Kieran Foran, said “Turbo″ was comfortable and effective on either side of the park.
Another Blues’ hopeful, Haumole Olakau’atu, was also at his rampaging best against the Dogs, and despite clutching at his left shoulder midway through the second half, later confirmed it was nothing more than a “stinger”.
Foran said on Sunday about the prospect of Trbojevic returning to help save the Blues: “It was a fair comeback by Tommy. He’s become so good at getting himself ready to go – he’s a special footballer.
“Tommy has played centre for the Blues before, he’s done the job, and it wouldn’t matter what side or where you put him. You just have to have him there, don’t you?”
Like Mitchell and Trbojevic, Martin has big-game experience and can play in the middle or on an edge. He scored a try during the Panthers’ loss to the Gold Coast, and will have one final and fourth game back from injury against the Cowboys on Saturday before the NSW side is selected.
“He’s certainly produced in that arena many times before; he’s a Clive Churchill winner, and the big games don’t faze him,” Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said of Martin last Friday. “If he plays well the next two weeks, you’d expect him to be in the frame somewhere.”
