Mitchell '100%' available as Walker, Moses emerge as halves options

Latrell Mitchell has confirmed his Origin availability, as rival coaches Ben Hornby and Trent Barrett refused to rule out injured playmakers Cody Walker and Mitchell Moses as contenders.

NSW coach Michael Maguire was an interested observer at PointsBet Stadium on Saturday night but any thought he had of settling key positions was scuttled as Nicho Hynes succumbed to a calf injury and the Sharks crashed 42-0 to Penrith.

With Nathan Cleary sidelined by a hamstring injury, Maguire’s options in the halves are limited and he is set to assess the fitness of Hynes, Moses and Walker before selecting the team for Origin I at Accor Stadium on June 5.

Neither Walker or Moses played in the Rabbitohs-Eels clash on Saturday night but the pair are expected to return next weekend, while Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said Hynes had been replaced at halftime as a precaution.

Walker and Moses were the Blues halves in last year’s third Origin and Hornby said his star five-eighth, who was man-of-the match in NSW’s victory, deserved to retain his spot, while he also backed Mitchell for selection.

“I'm expecting Cody and Latrell to make the team,” Hornby said. “I think they're good enough players and they've shown before that they should be in the team. I know who I wouldn't want to be going against if I was playing.”

Mitchell captained the Rabbitohs to their first win since Hornby took over as interim coach after their ANZAC Day loss in Melbourne and produced three try assists in Saturday night’s 42-26 triumph against the Eels.

After starting the match at fullback, Mitchell played most of the second half at five-eighth following the loss of Jack Wighton due to a head knock.

With Tom Trbojevic (hamstring), Bradman Best (hamstring) and Kotoni Staggs (ribs) all injured, Maguire is believed to be considering Cronulla's Jesse Ramien to partner Stephen Crichton in the centres.

However, Mitchell is now expected to come into consideration after dispelling speculation about his availability for the Blues - and he can avoid suspension with an early plea after being charged with Grade 1 Dangerous Contact.  

“He is available - all of our players are available," Hornby said. "If NSW want them, they are there”.

Sitting next to Hornby at the post-match press conference, Mitchell said: “100 per cent”.

However, Hornby was less certain about when Walker would be able to train.  

“Cody's going to have to run on Monday and we go from there,” he said. “If he runs a Monday and he's no good, he’s no good. If he runs a Monday and he's okay, then you go to the next step as far as I'm concerned.”

Barrett, who was in charge of his first match as interim Eels coach following the sacking of Brad Arthur last Monday, said he planned to name Moses for Thursday night’s match against the Sharks, along with captain Clint Gutherson.

With Moses not having played for eight weeks after fracturing his foot, Barrett said it would be a “big ask” for him to thrust into the Origin arena but confirmed that he was ready to return.

“I’d never want to rule anyone out, that’s not my call, but it would be a big ask given the injury Mitch had,” Barrett said.

“It was pretty significant, and he’s got a plate in his foot and hasn’t really completed a full week of training yet. This is his big week so to throw him into that would be a big ask.

“Mitch is a terrific player, so I’m unsure what they’ll do.”

After originally leaving the field for a HIA, which he passed, Hynes – who missed Round 10 due to calf tightness but returned for Magic Round – was ruled out by Sharks medical staff. 

Fitzgibbon was unsure whether or not Hynes would be available for Blues selection, but noted he likely would have been able to play on if not for the 15-minute break for the HIA.

"He's not too bad. Probably with the 15-minute time off he cooled down and tightened up. I think he is OK... I just got the message that with cooling down he had tightened up," Fitzgibbon said.

"I'm not sure [on Origin]. Even if he got through, he is still going to have to be modified [in training] for it. It obviously happened a couple of weeks ago. He's done well to get through last week and then was getting through tonight.

"I don't know the severity of it but it's not like it's completely gone."