Embattled rugby league star Latrell Mitchell only found out he had been dropped from State of Origin as he celebrated a victory with his Roosters teammates.
The centre, who scored two tries on Sunday night, was on the field at the SCG when teammate Boyd Cordner told him he had been axed from the squad.
NSW captain Cordner had only found out about the line-up moments earlier.
Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton also learned he was dumped from the squad during a live radio interview after his side’s 38-12 win against the Bulldogs.
In another twist, no one from the Blues camp told Roosters coach Trent Robinson that two of his players had been dumped.
Football star Latrell Mitchell (pictured with girlfriend Brielle) found out he was dropped from the second State of Origin game by his Sydney Roosters team while on the SCG on Sunday night
Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton (pictured with younger sister) learned he was dumped during a live radio interview after their 38-12 win against the Bulldogs
Robinson refused to take aim at NSW coach Brad Fittler during a post-match interview after being baited by reporters.
‘No one has asked about how they are going and that is fine,’ Robinson said.
‘If I was coaching that team I’d choose the players that I really wanted to be out there for game two.
‘I am not going to sit here and bag Freddy (Fittler).’
He admitted Mitchell was going through a slump in form in recent weeks, despite an impressive showing in front of the Bulldogs, and rubbished reports there was more going on behind the scenes.
‘I believe in (Mitchell). He is a good man, he is a good character. He was put in the spotlight at a really young age. He was 18. He has played big moments.
‘If you ask four out of five Roosters supporters who do they love, it is Latrell. And probably if you ask five out of 10 non Roosters supporters, they’d say Latrell as well.
‘But the guy hasn’t played as well as what he wanted over the last month.
Mitchell, who helped NSW win only their second Origin series in 13 years in 2018, was dropped after a lackluster Game 1 and off-field disputes with his manager.
The centre’s axe comes after he failed to return to Sydney with his Blues teammates on Thursday and drove with relatives to his hometown in Taree
Fittler’s decision to dump Mitchell sparked a furious reaction from fans, with one user describing the Blues as ‘panic merchants since the 1980s.’
‘Queensland make two forced changes because of injury. New South Wales drop everybody. 30 years of #stateoforigin summed up in two sentences. #nrl,’ one tweeted.
‘Dropping Latrell Mitchell after one bad game is the sort of insane decision making that cost New South Wales 8 straight series,’ another wrote.
One added: ‘I just watched Latrell Mitchell play live. Scored 2 tries and kicked 5 goals. Simply cannot believe he hasn’t been picked for NSW for Origin 2.’
Queensland fans were also quick to poke fun at the new-look NSW team.
‘Not going to lie. I had to have a little giggle when I saw the NSW team selection for Origin – Game 2,’ wrote one social media user.
‘The N in NSW obviously stands for no loyalty,’ wrote another.
‘Queensland 3-0,’ bluntly added a third.
His controversial axe has sparked reaction from Blues fans and Queensland supporters, with one user referring to the NSW team as the ‘panic merchants since 1980’
Blake Ferguson, Tom Trbojevic, James Maloney, Daniel Saifiti, Dale Finucane, Wade Graham and Tariq Sims have all been called in to play for NSW in Perth.
Trbojevic and Jack Wighton have been named in the centres despite neither playing there for their club teams, while Saifiti will make his debut in the run-on side.
While Mitchell was heavily criticised for a sub-par showing in the game-one defeat, his axing will still be regarded as a major shock.
A Kangaroos incumbent, Mitchell scored two tries as part of an 18-point haul in the Sydney Roosters’ big NRL win over Canterbury on Sunday.
Fittler said dropping Mitchell was his ‘hardest decision in coaching so far’.
‘The nature of State of Origin, you need to be at your best. He wasn’t at his best [in Origin One]. That’s fair to say,’ Fittler said.
While Mitchell was heavily criticised for a sub-par showing in the game-one defeat, his axing will still be regarded as a major shock
Panthers five-eighth James Maloney, who was previously unwanted before the games series, was called in to play in what Fittler called one of many big decisions.
The exiled playmaker helped orchestrate a 2018 Blues victory but also played a role in a series of disappointing Origin series losses in recent years.
David Klemmer (wrist), Payne Haas (hamstring) and Nick Cotric (ankle) are three forced changes after copping injuries over the past fortnight.
First-gamer Cody Walker, Angus Crichton, Josh Morris and Mitchell have been overlooked in what is a vastly-different looking team.
Halfback candidate Mitchell Pearce was widely tipped for a dramatic recall but was ruled out early on Sunday due to hip and cork issues.
‘It’s really disappointing for him,’ Fittler told the Nine Network on Sunday.
‘He was really keen … I spoke to him last night and I knew he had a cork but speaking to him this morning and just then, he’ll be unavailable.
‘It’s a bit of a shame.’
Haas was also ruled out on Sunday with a hamstring problem.
The Blues are 1-0 down in the best of three series and will play Queensland again in Perth next Sunday.
Panthers five-eighth James Maloney (pictured), who was previously unwanted before the games series, was called in to play in what Fittler called one of many big decisions