Latrell Mitchell has sent a massive scare to NSW coach Laurie Daley and Blues fans after hobbling off late in South Sydney’s chastening 32-10 loss to the Dolphins on Friday night. Jack Bostock, Selwyn Cobbo and Max Plath all strengthened their cases for Origin selection in strong performances for the Dolphins, but Cobbo was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Campbell Graham.
The former Maroons winger has escaped a charge for the lifting tackle on Graham after the NRL match review committee findings were handed down on Saturday. While Cam Murray will be free to play for the Blues if selected for Game 1, after he also escaped a charge for a dangerous tackle on Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
But the biggest concern for NSW ahead of the Monday’s Origin team announcement is the fitness of star centre Mitchell, who limped from the field in the dying stages of Friday night’s loss. Latrell had only just returned after missing last week’s game with a back injury, and the sight of him leaving the field in the final 10 minutes left fans holding their breath.
Fox League’s Jake Duke said Souths officials “wouldn’t give me an answer” about whether Latrell’s back injury had flared up during the game. The club admitted the superstar was “a bit sore” and that his late withdrawal was a way of looking after him with Origin on the horizon.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett did his best to play down any injury concerns for Mitchell after addressing the issue in his post-match press conference. “He’s not too bad. I don’t think there’s anything serious there,” the veteran coach said.
“I think he was just kind of cramping up a bit. “If Latrell is fit to play Origin, he will play. If he’s not fit, he won’t be playing.” Fans were understandably more concerned, with many suggesting that Mitchell didn’t look 100% right throughout the game.
Dolphins star put up huge cases for Origin selection
Mitchell’s injury concern came as Bostock enhanced his chance of a Blues call-up with another brilliant display. The Dolphins winger scored his fourth try in just three games back from a long-term knee injury after standing up Mitchell and slicing through the Bunnies’ defence midway through the second half. He also had three tackle busts and ran for 111 metres to put up an emphatic case for Origin selection.
Dolphins teammate Max Plath was also outstanding and looks to have locked down a spot in Billy Slater’s Maroons squad. Plath started at hooker before moving into a ball-playing lock role, and capped off a superb game with a solo try in a dominant opening half that set up the win for Kristian Woolf’s side.
Kiwi great Shaun Johnson described it as a “special” display from Plath. “It’s not just the barge, the bull terrier type get in there and do a job,” Johnson told Fox League. “We need you to play multiple roles, we need you to service multiple players and a player that can make your job easier, they’re the ones you want in your side.”
Cobbo also put his hand up for an Origin recall with another solid game. He opened the scoring with his sixth try of the season and ran for 153 metres, with six tackle busts. With a Maroons wing spot seemingly up for grabs, Cobbo may very well have played himself into Slater’s squad.
