Michael Maguire calls out Origin detail about Latrell Mitchell in telling call on Blues star
Mitchell was a standout for the Blues in his first Origin game since 2021.
NSW coach Michael Maguire says a couple of areas of Latrell Mitchell's game have not been given the credit they deserve after the 27-year-old’s sensational return to the State of Origin arena for Game 2. Mitchell scored one try and set up another as NSW thrashed Queensland 38-18 at the MCG. And the Rabbitohs star terrorised the Maroons all game with an aggressive approach that left the Queenslanders shellshocked.
Mitchell's defence has been criticised while playing fullback for the Rabbitohs in the NRL this season, with his positional awareness and desperation as the last line of defence often under scrutiny. But after being recalled to the Blues side for the first time since 2021 and switching back to the centre position where he's played in two grand final victories for the Roosters and Origin series wins for NSW, Mitchell was outstanding.
The Rabbitohs star is yet to lose an Origin series that he's been involved in with the Blues and once again proved he's one of the best centres in the game. It was widely expected that the Maroons would try and target Mitchell in Game 2, with many identifying him as a weak link in the Blues' defence and suggesting the likes of Reece Walsh and his opposite centre Valentine Holmes could target the 27-year-old.
The reality could not have been any different, with Mitchell often coming off his line to put big tackles on the Maroons players. On more than one occasion he targeted Walsh and Holmes with bone-rattling hits and Maguire said the South Sydney star's defence had not been spoken about highly enough.
Michael Maguire hails Latrell Mitchell's defensive qualities
“One thing Latrell probably isn’t credited for as he doesn’t play as much centre these days, is his defence,” Maguire said on the Matty Johns Podcast. “I thought he was actually really strong defensively out on the edge. To be able to have those two boys (Mitchell and Stephen Crichton) out there on the edges. But Latrell has that presence, we all know that. And it is nice to see he’s got a real smile on his face and has got that swagger back and is enjoying his football.”
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The Rabbitohs star is very much a confidence player and his blistering form over the last month has come after a series of controversies earlier in the season when he and the Bunnies were struggling. Mitchell was criticised for his comments about Spencer Leniu's racial slur on Ezra Mam, copped backlash over his foul-mouthed interview after a game and was then banned for three games for elbowing Warriors half Shaun Johnson.
Mitchell's performance in Game 2 was a culmination of his stunning form reversal after his commitment and future in the game had come under question. But Maguire said the fact his star centre chose to shift the focus off himself and onto the collective performance of his teammates, showed a selflessness from Mitchell that he deserves more praise for.
“The one thing he said is that ‘I am one little part of the team’ and ‘it’s all about the team’ and when you’ve got your players in that headspace, especially someone of his calibre, you’re in a pretty good place,” Maguire said. Mate, he’s great to be around and we’ve all said that. To have him back in there and smiling and buzzing about training, it’s quite enjoyable.”
Maguire revealed on the podcast that he's unlikely to make changes to the Blues side for Game 3, regardless of whether Origin stalwarts Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic are available. The Blues coach admitted he would have to wait and see how all the players hold up after this weekend's matches before announcing his side.
