- Latrell Mitchell managed to silence angry Maroons fans
- A New South Wales star has missed the Origin decider due to a foot injury
- He showed his support for the Blues on social media
Latrell Mitchell sat out the NSW Blues’ Origin decider but still managed to get under the skin of Queensland fans.
Mitchell, 27, was ruled out of Game 3 with a foot injury but took to Instagram to show his support for Michael Maguire’s side.
He posted a picture of his replacement Bradman Best scoring the first try of the game at Suncorp Stadium with the accompanying caption: ‘NSW don’t understand Origin’.
It was a telling reference to the supposed truth that the Maroons tend to seize big moments at Origin Stadium every year.
Prior to the Blues’ heroics in Brisbane on Wednesday, the Maroons had won six of the last nine interstate series, including those in 2022 and last year.
But Maguire’s men were undeterred when it mattered on Wednesday, with Rabbitohs star Mitchell playing a leading role as New South Wales levelled the series in the second game at the MCG.
NSW Blues legend Andrew Johns praised Maguire for staying calm throughout the series, especially after they were thrashed in the first game following Joseph Sua’ali’i’s dismissal in the first 10 minutes in Sydney.
“Michael Maguire, take a bow,” Johns said on Channel 9.
Latrell Mitchell sat out the NSW Blues’ Origin decider but still managed to get under the skin of Queensland fans (pictured after scoring a try in the second game at the MCG)
Mitchell, 27, was ruled out of Game 3 with a foot injury but took to Instagram to show his support for Michael Maguire’s side (pictured, with the Origin crest).
New South Wales captain Jake Trbojevic (left) and NSW Blues’ Angus Crichton celebrate victory at Suncorp Stadium
‘But these players, not just the New South Wales players but the Queensland players as well, have done everything for their state.
“This has been an absolute classic. There is nothing better.”
Maguire himself also addressed the myth that his team did not 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 New South Wales. That’s completely wrong,” he said.
“You all saw what this result meant to the boys.”
This New South Wales team is also the third Blues team after the 1994 and 2005 sides to win an Origin decider against the odds in Brisbane.