By losing Latrell Mitchell for the first game in the Origin series, the Blues will not only be left without one of their best players, but will be missing a key part of their deadliest weapon in the fight against Queensland.
Key points:
- Jack Wighton is a surprise substitute for Latrell Mitchell in the center left
- Mitchell dominated last year’s series as part of the Blues ’bright left edge
- Wighton faces challenge that matches Rabbitohs star feats
Mitchell was excellent in all three games last year, just behind Wally Lewis medal winner Tom Trbojevic in terms of impact on the Blues’ 2-1 series victory, but his individual heroism occurred as part of a left-wing Blues margin that completely destroyed Queensland.
Of the 15 trials New South Wales scored last year, 13 came out. And of those 13 attempts, seven went down the left edge. Mitchell was great, but so were Jarome Luai, Tariq Sims, and Brian To’o, both as individuals and as a combination.
With Jack Wighton in the middle of Mitchell, the Blues will have to change things to make sure their new left side is just as dangerous.
According to Sims, a vanguard union away from the field is as important as getting reps in training.
“We’ve been in each other’s back pockets for 10 days,” Sims said.
“You see the best and the worst of everyone, and through the camp you can have a disagreement, but that can bring you even closer.
“The Penrith guys have their connection, it ‘s easy for them, so we have to buy what they offer and learn from it.
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“Learning is an important part of an Origin camp. Every team is different, every camp is different and it’s about how you adjust to what determines whether you get the best out of your teammates.
“I thought we did very well last year.
“How much are you willing to open up, learn and be vulnerable with the team? It’s up to us to help each other in what it takes to be an Origin player.”
Sims, a surprise selection in the second row last year, became a strong series as the straight man between Luai and Mitchell, with a spectacular pass for To’o to score Origin I the highlight.
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He and To’o already have experience playing alongside Wighton: the Raiders star placed in the round of 16 for Game III last year and scored a try in the two-point loss to NSW, and the backrower of the Dragons is confident that the new combination can be a success. , regardless of who fills the shirt.
“Above all, we put our teammates first and what’s best for the team,” Sims said.
“The selfless acts that need to be done in addition to individual brilliance, sacrificing what you can for the team, doing what you need and what you need to do, going beyond your teammate.
“As a group of men, they’ve put in the effort to get out there and create a good style, a good rugby league brand and use it to beat Queensland.”
His athleticism as a runner and defender is his greatest strength as a footballer no matter where he plays, and as long as Wighton plays with the same aggression and physical nature that Brad Fittler demands of all his charges, things can fall apart. in New South Wales.
While Wighton doesn’t have Mitchell’s skills as a passenger or his ability to break tackles as a runner, he doesn’t look back in either department, and will also be in charge of helping To’o manage the air strike that will surely arrive in Queensland. tries to exploit the prodigious jumping ability of Xavier Coates.
What complicates things a bit is that while the former Dally M winner had already played as a center for the Blues before, 2019-20, and this experience is the reason why he received the opinion on the rookie Penrith Stephen Crichton has not played this position at the club level since. 2014.
For Luai, the way to overcome nerves or uncertainty is simple: go as strong as you can, as fast as you can. And if Wighton follows suit in his battle with Queensland veteran Dane Gagai, the Blues should be able to upset the Maroons again.
“Start well, don’t shy away from anything, get into the game early and take it in stride. You don’t know what’s going to happen below the court, so you have to make the most of every second with that shirt on,” Luai said. .
“We have a great bond, a great chemistry, and that starts at camp. If we love each other’s company, we can go out there and do what we do.”
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 10:02 PM, updated 51 minutes ago, 51 minutes ago, Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 11:53 PM