Latrell puts aside Vegas drama for good of Blues
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It's not quite a case of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but Latrell Mitchell insists there is no lingering bad blood between him and Spencer Leniu after they were chosen as Blues team-mates.
Mitchell spoke out in support of Broncos playmaker Ezra Mam after he was racially abused by Leniu in the historic season opener at Allegiant Stadium, but the pair have put the incident behind them to focus on Origin II at the MCG.
The Rabbitohs superstar is not backing away from his anti-racism stance but said he and the Sydney Roosters prop, who served an eight-match ban, both now had a job to do to help NSW level the series.
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“Obviously, the reflection is all done, and everything's all sorted, the NRL has dealt with it, and we have put it behind us,” Mitchell said after being recalled to the Blues side for the June 26 clash in Melbourne.
“We have got to move forward, and we have got a job to do so I think for that, him and me will just talk and we will let bygones be bygones. The lessons have been learned and we will go from here.”
The fallout from the incident impacted on Mitchell, who became a target for critics, even though he wasn’t directly involved and was merely standing up for a fellow Indigenous player.
Mitchell struggled for form as Souths suffered an early season slump that cost coach Jason Demetriou his job while he was serving a three-match ban for dangerous contact.
However, Mitchell is clearly enjoying his football again and he received a welcome 27th birthday present on Sunday after Blues coach Michael Maguire recalled him for his first Origin appearance since 2021.
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“It’s been a long time but I'm really happy, I had the call last night with Madge and we had a good yarn,” Mitchell said at a coaching clinic in which NSW players wore the jerseys of their junior clubs.
“I know what to expect so I'm going to be ready for it. We’ll enjoy the week, get some new connections and new bonds with the boys. I'm very excited.”
Asked about the expectation that he could be NSW’s saviour after a 12-man outfit were beaten 38-10 in Origin I, following the dismissal of Joseph Sua’ali’i, Mitchell insisted he was just one member of the Blues team.
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“I’m going in to play and have fun and enjoy myself. That’s it,” he said.
“I appreciate it [the accolades], I really do, but if I put pressure on myself now then I will focus on it all week, and then all the preparation goes out the window.
I think if you just let me play footy, I can amaze you, so just let me go.
"I think I deserve to be here, I think it’s my arena. I enjoy it, I really do. I love playing in front of fans of such passion and playing for NSW.”
Overlooked for the series opener, Mitchell said he had watched the match on television and knew that he wanted to impress Maguire for selection in Origin II.
After starring for the Rabbitohs in last Friday night’s defeat of the Broncos, Mitchell sat next to Maguire at a reunion for the club’s 2014 premiership winning team attended by the current squad.
“I just had to get through the Broncos game, but then catching up with him after that and seeing all the old boys celebrate their 10-year anniversary after the grand final was nice,” he said.
“It was special to be able to hear their stories and to sit there with Madge and listen to him talk about that year.
“We just had a few beers and a yarn, but it was nothing about this. I then waited for the call, and it came. I found out that I was in last night so that was a good birthday present.
"It doesn’t matter where you put me, I’ll play my best footy.”
