- Latrell Mitchell managed to silence fired up Maroons fans
- NSW star missed Origin decider due to a foot injury
- Showcased his support for the Blues on social media
Latrell Mitchell played no part in the Origin decider for the NSW Blues – but he still managed to get under the skin of Queensland fans.
Mitchell, 27, was ruled out of game three with a foot injury, but took to Instagram to showcase his support for Michael Maguire’s team.
He posted an image of his replacement Bradman Best scoring the first try of the game at Suncorp Stadium with the accompanying caption – ‘NSW don’t get Origin.’
It was a blunt reference to the supposed truth that the Maroons tend to seize the big moments in the Origin arena each year.
Before the Blues’ heroics in Brisbane on Wednesday, the Maroons had won six of the past nine interstate series – including in 2022 and last year.
But Maguire’s men weren’t to be denied when it mattered on Wednesday – and Rabbitohs star Mitchell played a prominent role in NSW levelling the series in game two at the MCG.
NSW Blues legend Andrew Johns lavished praise on Maguire for holding his nerve across the series, especially after they were hammered in game one following the sending-off of Joseph Sua’ali’i inside the first 10 minutes in Sydney.
‘Michael Maguire, take a bow,’ Johns said on Channel 9.
Latrell Mitchell played no part in the Origin decider for the NSW Blues – but still managed to get under the skin of Queensland fans (pictured, after scoring a try in game two at the MCG)
Mitchell, 27, was ruled out of game three with a foot injury, but took to Instagram to showcase his support for Michael Maguire’s team (pictured, with the Origin shield)
NSW captain Jake Trbojevic (left) and Angus Crichton of the NSW Blues celebrate victory at Suncorp Stadium
‘But these players, not only NSW players, the Queensland players, have done everything for their state.
‘This has been an absolute classic. It doesn’t get any better.’
Maguire himself also addressed the myth his side didn’t have the same level of desire as the Maroons.
‘Everyone told me we don’t have passion. We don’t have this or that or everything in NSW. It’s completely wrong,’ he said.
‘You [all] saw what this result meant for the boys.’
This NSW side is also just the third Blues team after the 1994 and 2005 sides to win an Origin decider against the odds in Brisbane.
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