Latrell Mitchell Origin rumour shut down by Blues: 'Certainly not'

Nothing to see here. The NSW coaching team is adamant it's not concealing the full extent of Latrell Mitchell's calf injury as doubts continue to circle over the centre's availability for game two of the Origin series.

The Souths superstar remained off the training paddock on Wednesday morning, with media only allowed 10 or so minutes to shoot vision before being ushered out of Coogee Oval. That only added to the belief the Blues had something to hide.

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Mitchell was also a notable absentee from the Blues' media day later that afternoon, sitting out the session while the rest of the squad fielded questions from a large contingent of reporters. As NSW's most influential player, Mitchell's withdrawal from game one was a massive blow to Brad Fittler's side.

He has been working around the clock to mend his injured calf amid speculation he is still carrying a limp. But Blues advisor Greg Alexander shot down any suggestion the NSW brains trust was attempting to hide anything.

"Maybe because Latrell had a big ice pack strapped to his calf, it was stopping him walking normally," Alexander told Radio SEN. "I've observed Latrell both running and walking and I haven’t seen a limp, certainly not while walking."

NSW could make call on Latrell Mitchell before Sunday

The Blues had Thursday off training and will return to work on Friday, with Mitchell to be given until at least Sunday to prove he's up to handling the intensity of an Origin match. But Alexander admitted a call could be made even earlier.

He said: "We've just got to wait and see what happens. "Latrell will run tomorrow (Friday) and I'd say he'd have to pass a number of things.

"Both the NSW physio team and Eddie Farah, the Souths physio, will put a little program together and Latrell will have to knock off a fair few things to advance to Sunday." Queensland are not buying into the conjecture over Mitchell and are convinced he will run out on Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.

The Maroons still have nightmares over how Mitchell and right centre Tom Trbojevic tormented them in the 2021 series. The Souths star will bring a bit of rock n roll attitude to a NSW side desperately in need of a lift after a shattering Origin I loss.

Valentine Holmes, who will mark Mitchell, said: "We'll talk about him and try to get our right edge up in his face to shut him down. He has great confidence in himself, especially coming into good ball in attack.

"Everyone wants to score and have that glory time. Latrell shines when he gets it." Penrith's Stephen Crichton took Mitchell's spot in game one and will again slot in at left centre if the Rabbitohs star is ruled out.

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