Should an underdone Latrell Mitchell be rushed back into New South Wales’ squad for a do-or-die Origin II clash in Perth on Sunday week?
That was the question posed by SEN’s Bryan Fletcher to former Origin playmaker Matty Johns as Mitchell nears a return from a hamstring injury.
With the Blues’ squad to be named after Round 15 – which is Mitchell’s expected return date – there’s doubt over where his body will hold up in Origin conditions with only one club game under his belt.
While Johns isn’t expecting Mitchell to be at peak fitness levels, he says the Rabbitoh simply must be picked due to his presence in the Origin arena.
“Latrell, he gets through the game, he’s a must, you have to pick him,” Johns said on SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“Even if he’s not 100 per cent, it’s the impact he’s got and the presence he’s got on the field.
“All of these Queensland guys on the field … they’ll be going, ‘Latrell Mitchell is back in the side’.
“Blokes like that, you’ve just got to put your champions in.”
With Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen also expected to return in Round 15 at club-level, Johns was asked whether the uncapped fullback should earn his first Origin jersey in Game II.
“Yes, I reckon he is (picked), you’ve just got to get on the offensive,” Johns replied.
“Last night (Wednesday) surprised me, it’s usually slippery (in Sydney), but the wind dried it out.
“With it being a dry pitch, because we (NSW) were a pass-centric team, I thought it’d suit us, but it obviously didn’t as they (Queensland) suffocated us.
“But the next two games, Perth – fast track, suits running players, then Brisbane – that’s always a fast track which suits running players that are attack-minded.”
Papenhuyzen and Mitchell look set to return for the Storm and Rabbitohs’ clashes with the Broncos and Dragons respectively next weekend.
New South Wales’ Game II Origin squad will be selected at the conclusion of Round 15.
The Blues will be hoping to even the Origin series at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday June 26.