A decision to give Latrell Mitchell a greater share of the Rabbitohs kicking game may have helped convince NSW coach Michael Maguire to recall the representative star for Origin II at the MCG.
With Maguire watching on with members of the South Sydney board and management at Accor Stadium on Friday night, Mitchell turned in an almost faultless Origin audition as the Rabbitohs downed the Broncos 22-12.
Maguire, who attended a reunion of the club's 2014 premiership winning team on Saturday, would have also pencilled Cameron Murray in after a successful return from injury, and possibly Cody Walker, as well as Mitchell.
Besides scoring a try, producing a try assist and making a long-range break that led to another Souths try, Mitchell had an impact with his general play kicking, which included a towering bomb that Selwyn Cobbo fumbled.
Mitchell kicked eight times during the match, which was as often as Walker and halves partner Jack Wighton – and the move not only helped the Rabbitohs win field position but ensured he is continually involved in the game.
No one is catching that one
“I think one of the things that's probably changed has been that we’ve used Latrell's big, big boot,” Walker said.
“He has got the biggest boot in the club, so why not use it. My left boot has got a bit of a pop gun, so I don't have the power that Latrell can produce with his boot.
“It's been good for us to get down there and win that possession rate that teams try and fight for in the game, so it's been a big boost for us to have that in our game.
“One of my strengths is kick-chase. We have made that change over the last couple of weeks, which has been working for us.
“Our response, our effort and our scrambles have been top notch over the last couple of weeks.
A try saver from Gagai
"Last weekend against the Titans, we saved a fair few tries, through Latrell at the back, and tonight through Jacob Gagai. That was a special moment.”
Just three weeks after Mitchell and Rabbitohs interim coach Ben Hornby were forced to dispel speculation about his desire to play Origin, he is now a clear frontrunner to replace the suspended Joseph Sua’ali’i in the centres.
Latrell lights up early
“If I was in that position, I'd be putting him in straight away because he's just got that aura about him, he's got that presence,” Walker said.
“I wouldn't be wanting to defend against him if I was playing at centre.
“The opinion of Latrell hasn't changed inside our four walls, we've said that from the get-go. Hopefully he gets his name called out on Sunday.
“Latrell's been outstanding over the last couple of weeks, his energy around training has been top notch, his energy in games and his effort in games has been fantastic.
“When you're playing that type of footy and are in that form, that gets you in those sides.”
Latrell Mitchell Try
Murray made his return after a six-week absence due to a hip injury and is expected to be one of the first players chosen by Maguire, who handed him his NRL debut in 2017.
The Souths captain said he was ready to play for the Blues and also endorsed Mitchell’s selection.
“If I am in the team I back Latrell, he my team-mate and my club-mate and I know what he is capable of,” Murray said.
With the Rabbitohs having won their past three matches, Walker may also come under consideration after being player-of-the-match in last year’s Origin III, which the Blues won.
Walker was not a genuine contender for Origin I as he was hampered by a calf injury, but the star playmaker is now fit and leading Souths mid-season revival after a poor start that resulted in the sacking of coach Jason Demetriou.
Rabbitohs v Broncos – Round 15, 2024
“I'm sure every player that's in contention would certainly put their hand up if they if they were selected or got given that phone call. I'd be no different,” Walker said.
“I’ve dreamed of playing State of Origin footy since I was a young kid. It was more of a dream back then.
“Through my journey it probably didn't become a reality until 2019 when I started to play consistent first grade footy and I got picked in that series, and then over the last couple of years just be sort of been in and out.
“I love the Blues, I bleed blue, and I’ve been to Origin since I was eight, nine, 10 years old. It’s an unbelievable arena so we'll see what happens over the next couple of days.”