He took the decision out of NSW’s hands and left Laurie Daley with a selection problem to solve by Monday morning.
NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley will announce his Game One squad on Monday morning without one of the players he was counting on most, after Latrell Mitchell withdrew from selection overnight citing an aggravated back injury.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs star informed Daley and club officials on Sunday the night before the squad announcement that he was not fit enough to play and did not want to risk letting his state down by carrying the injury into camp.
“Mitchell advised Daley and his South Sydney Rabbitohs club officials that he was not 100 per cent fit and did not want to let down his state or club,” a NSW Rugby League statement confirmed.
Mitchell had been considered a certainty to start at left centre if fit for Game One in Sydney on May 27.
How the injury unfolded
Mitchell first hurt his back in South Sydney’s Round 9 loss to Newcastle, with initial assessments suggesting he would miss a maximum of two weeks. He returned after just one week, only to leave Friday night’s loss to the Dolphins in the 73rd minute reigniting concerns about his availability for Origin and casting doubt over his NRL commitments as well.
He will also miss at least next weekend’s clash with North Queensland at club level, with a possible return after the Rabbitohs’ Round 13 bye.
The Blues had been prepared to take a similar approach to the one they used with Payne Haas and Brian To’o last year naming Mitchell in the squad and managing his injury through camp ahead of game night. Both Haas and To’o overcame their respective fitness concerns last series to finish as two of NSW’s best performers.
This time, Mitchell made the call before that option arose.
Who fills the gap
With Mitchell unavailable, Daley faces a genuine selection dilemma at left centre. Three candidates have emerged.
Kotoni Staggs is the most experienced of the trio, having played Origin once before and been in strong form for Brisbane before a two-week suspension interrupted his season. He returns to NRL action this weekend and is likely to be Daley’s first preference if fit and sharp.
Tolu Koula and Casey McLean are both uncapped but have had impressive seasons for Manly and Penrith respectively, putting themselves firmly in the frame with consistent NRL form heading into the Origin period.
At right centre, Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton has been told he will retain his spot on the team sheet despite questions surrounding both his form and a shoulder injury. Crichton has not missed a Blues game since his debut in 2022 and showed encouraging signs at Magic Round despite appearing tentative in defence and passing since returning from a serious AC joint injury in Round 7. Daley has backed his experience.
Laurie Daley will name his NSW Blues squad for Game One on Monday morning. Game One of the 2026 State of Origin series is scheduled for May 27 in Sydney.
