NSW have been dealt a huge blow with Latrell Mitchell ruled out of Origin 1.<\/p>\n
Souths doctors have advised against his selection after he aggravated a back injury against the Dolphins on Friday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile coach Laurie Daley is reportedly set to stick solid with out-of-form centre Stephen Crichton, while Billy Slater is understood to be leaning against picking Reece Walsh at fullback.<\/p>\n
According to Code Sports<\/a>, Daley is expected to keep faith with Crichton despite his form struggles with the flailing Bulldogs in 2026. <\/p>\n Crichton was facing stern competition from Broncos star Kotoni Staggs; however, Daley is reportedly set to stick solid with the Origin veteran.<\/p>\n In other Blues team rumblings, Manly pair Haumole Olakau\u2019atu and Tolu Koula will reportedly be called up after impressive performances in Magic Round, according to The Sydney Morning Herald\u2019s Christian Nicolussi.<\/p>\n It would mean an Origin debut for Koula, who has performed brilliantly at centre for the Sea Eagles this campaign.<\/p>\n Teammate Olakau\u2019atu has also caught the eye, particularly against the Tigers on Saturday, bulldozing his way through their defence in a peformance Jamal Fogarty labelled \u201cdestructive\u201d.<\/p>\n There could be another NSW debutant in Cronulla Sharks co-captain Blayke Brailey, who is understood to be in line for a call.<\/p>\n The hooker missed Magic Round with a head knock but he is raring to go if he is called upon.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Laurie needs me, I\u2019ll be 100 per cent ready to go,\u201d Brailey said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been ready for a couple of years now and I think a good way to play Harry Grant is to fight fire with fire and I want to provide that.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere Addin Fonua-Blake is reportedly set to make history with a Blues front-row call up.<\/p>\n If confirmed, Tonga captain Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney, will become the first NSW selection to come following the loosened eligibility rules.<\/p>\n Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses are expected to be the Blues halves.<\/p>\n While Raiders playmaker Ethan Strange is expected to be handed an Origin debut, selected as a bench utility.<\/p>\n In other news, Warriors trio Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford and Wayde Egan are all in consideration for a Blues spot and were informed by NSWRL officials before flying to Brisbane to pack extra luggage. <\/p>\n 17:20 – Latrell Mitchell set to miss game one<\/p>\n Key Blues star Mitchell has been troubled by injury in recent weeks and suffered a setback during Magic Round.<\/p>\n He did not look comfortable agains the Dolphins before hobbling off in the 73rd minute.<\/p>\n It is likely Mitchell aggravated a back problem that kept him out of action the previous week.<\/p>\n \u201cNSWRL officials can confirm that South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell contacted NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley today to rule himself out of contention for game one of the 2026 State of Origin Series,\u201d a statement said.<\/p>\n \u201dMitchell advised Daley and his Rabbitohs club officials that he was not 100 per cent fit and did not want to let down his state or club, so he would be unavailable for both the Rabbitohs\u2019 round 12 lash and Origin game one on Wednesday week.<\/p>\n \u201dMitchell cited his ongoing back issue for his unavailability, with Daley set to name his team tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Souths teammate Campbell Graham admitted Mitchell was \u201cnot 100 per cent\u201d but Wayne Bennett gave a more optimistic assessment immediately after the Magic Round clash.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he\u2019s okay. Not too serious there. I think he\u2019s just kind of cramping up a bit for next week,\u201d said the Rabbitohs head coach.<\/p>\n When asked if Mitchell would be fit for Origin, Bennett responded: \u201cI should think so.<\/p>\n \u201c12-day turnaround, I think he\u2019ll be right then.\u201d<\/p>\n Billy Slater set to name surprise fullback<\/p>\n