Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out of the State of Origin series opener with a calf injury.
Panthers premiership winner Stephen Crichton will come into the centres with Bulldogs star Matt Burton added as 18th man.
Mitchell told his Blues teammates of his injury on Monday morning after this masthead reported he failed to finish a crucial Sunday night session at Accor Stadium. He won’t travel with the team to Adelaide.
Blues officials sent Mitchell for a scan and the results confirmed he wouldn’t be fit for the opening match on Wednesday night.
The injury is thought to be only minor and Mitchell is confident he will be fit for the second game of the series in Brisbane.
When asked about not finishing the session on Sunday night, Mitchell said: “No, I thought I’d give Nicho [Hynes] and Critta [Stephen Crichton] a run out there. I was a bit cold.”
But it was later that night he realised the severity of the injury, which has thrown the Blues’ preparations a curveball as they try to wrest Origin supremacy back from Queensland.
It was to be the first time Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic had teamed up in the centres since they tormented the Maroons in the COVID-impacted 2021 series.
More to come
