Desperate times call for desperate measures – and Blues coach Michael Maguire has decided to roll the dice on Latrell Mitchell in a gamble that could decide Origin.
Latrell was brilliant in South Sydney’s 22-12 win over the Broncos on Friday night, clinching selection with a powerhouse attacking game – scoring a try, having a try assist, running for 175 metres with five tackle busts.
But the fiery fullback found himself in the sin bin after a moment of madness and that is the downside with the dynamic Bunny.
READ MORE: Hynes, Teddy axed as new-look Blues team revealed
READ MORE: ‘Murky’ situation revealed in young gun’s eligibility battle
READ MORE: Dragons implode in ‘memorable’ Sea Eagles triumph
Latrell can be easily baited and in the likes of Harry Grant and Lindsay Collins, Queensland have players capable of pushing his buttons.
In the pressure-cooker Origin atmosphere, everyone is on edge and it doesn’t take much to start a flare-up that could leave a team a man short.
Queensland coach Billy Slater is only too aware of Latrell’s short fuse and is certain to give his players a license to test the star utility’s discipline next Wednesday night.
ENFORCERS BURNED BY REPUTATION
Are the reputations of the Roosters’ hit men counting against them in league’s modern era?
The Roosters are the most penalised team in the NRL, largely because of their three hard men – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Victor Radley and Lindsay Collins.
Watch the 2024 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
All three are ‘old school’, belting opponents at every chance at a time when hard hits are becoming all but extinct in the game.
Roosters officials believe they get a raw deal and on the surface of it, they have a case. JWH pulled off a big hit on Saturday night on Parramatta’s Shaun Lane and the referee blew a penalty.
But then the Bunker intervened, not only putting him on report but sending him to the sin bin. Plenty of times during games we hear refs say “don’t talk to me like that or I will penalise you”.
But at a big moment at a crucial time, with the scores tied, referee Chris Butler immediately penalised Collins right in front of his posts for back-chat and the Eels took the lead.
And Radley? His reputation is so fearsome that he only has to sneeze on an opponent and he seems to get penalised.
It’s a worry for the Roosters heading into the big games, with the reputation of their hard men apparently counting against them.
Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
SEASON-DEFINING SEA EAGLES VICTORY
Some wins are season defining – especially in games when you had no right to finish in front on the scoreboard.
And so it was at Brookvale on Sunday, when the wounded Sea Eagles scored a brave 30-14 win over a poor Dragons side.
Manly lost four players in the first half – both props Toafofoa Sipley (knee) and Taniela Paseka (thumb), centre Rueben Garrick (head knock) and forward Corey Waddell (leg).
The situation was so dire that Waddell limped back onto the field in the second half to help his mates out and give them one player in their bench rotation.
Veteran skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was superb for Manly, controlling the game with his smart passing and kicking game.
EX-STORM STAR STANDS UP FOR TIGERS
He’s as hard as a lump of granite, and Tigers centre Justin Olam lodged his claim for the buy of the year tag at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.
In a desperate struggle between two battling teams, Olam proved the difference as the Tigers out-enthused the Titans 18-10.
The win ended a long and painful nine match losing run for the Tigers – and had Olam not been there, it may well have been a 10th straight loss.
The PNG international scored a try in each half, positioning himself superbly both times to cut open the Titans defence.
Olam’s experience has added a hard edge to the young Tigers and he is proving a great addition to Benji Marshall’s troops.
FORTRESS NO MORE?
The Raiders’ strength in recent years is proving their weakness as they move into the danger zone of missing the finals.
GIO Stadium, the Viking Clap and the bitter cold have made the Raiders’ home ground a fortress under Ricky Stuart.
But something has gone wrong in recent games – the Green Machine have conceded 118 points in their last three games at home.
Add to that four losses from their last seven matches and the Raiders have clearly lost their way.
They were booed from the field by their loyal fans at halftime against the Cowboys on Friday night, down 22-0.
They had a bit more of a go in the second half to make the final scoreline 34-16 – but that may have been a case of the Cowboys taking their foot off the pedal.
With three byes still to come and a favourable draw, the men from far North Queensland are suddenly looking a real chance of finals footy.
DOLPHINS STAR CHANNELING ENGLISH ICON
Is Herbie Farnworth the best English centre to play in Australia since the legendary Ellery Hanley?
Hanley starred for both Balmain and Wests in the late 1980s and he got the Tigers into the 1988 grand final before being KO’d by the Bulldogs’ Terry Lamb off the ball.
Fans of the two merged clubs are still in awe of his skills but Herbie is right up there.
After starring for the Broncos in recent years, he has proved one of the buys of the year at the Dolphins.
Against the Sharks on Thursday night, he was majestic, scoring a try and making 215 run metres. Without his contribution, the Sharks would almost certainly have won a game that went right down to the wire.
It was a performance ‘The Black Pearl’, now aged 63 and living back in England, would have been proud of.