NSW have been dealt a huge blow with Latrell Mitchell ruled out of Origin 1.
Souths doctors have advised against his selection after he aggravated a back injury against the Dolphins on Friday.
Meanwhile coach Laurie Daley is reportedly set to stick solid with out-of-form centre Stephen Crichton, while Billy Slater is understood to be leaning against picking Reece Walsh at fullback.
According to Code Sports, Daley is expected to keep faith with Crichton despite his form struggles with the flailing Bulldogs in 2026.
Crichton was facing stern competition from Broncos star Kotoni Staggs; however, Daley is reportedly set to stick solid with the Origin veteran.
In other Blues team rumblings, Manly pair Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula will reportedly be called up after impressive performances in Magic Round, according to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Christian Nicolussi.
It would mean an Origin debut for Koula, who has performed brilliantly at centre for the Sea Eagles this campaign.
Teammate Olakau’atu has also caught the eye, particularly against the Tigers on Saturday, bulldozing his way through their defence in a peformance Jamal Fogarty labelled “destructive”.
There could be another NSW debutant in Cronulla Sharks co-captain Blayke Brailey, who is understood to be in line for a call.
The hooker missed Magic Round with a head knock but he is raring to go if he is called upon.
“If Laurie needs me, I’ll be 100 per cent ready to go,” Brailey said.
“I’ve been ready for a couple of years now and I think a good way to play Harry Grant is to fight fire with fire and I want to provide that.”
Elsewhere Addin Fonua-Blake is reportedly set to make history with a Blues front-row call up.
If confirmed, Tonga captain Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney, will become the first NSW selection to come following the loosened eligibility rules.
Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses are expected to be the Blues halves.
While Raiders playmaker Ethan Strange is expected to be handed an Origin debut, selected as a bench utility.
In other news, Warriors trio Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford and Wayde Egan are all in consideration for a Blues spot and were informed by NSWRL officials before flying to Brisbane to pack extra luggage.
17:20 – Latrell Mitchell set to miss game one
Key Blues star Mitchell has been troubled by injury in recent weeks and suffered a setback during Magic Round.
He did not look comfortable agains the Dolphins before hobbling off in the 73rd minute.
It is likely Mitchell aggravated a back problem that kept him out of action the previous week.
“NSWRL officials can confirm that South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell contacted NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley today to rule himself out of contention for game one of the 2026 State of Origin Series,” a statement said.
”Mitchell advised Daley and his Rabbitohs club officials that he was not 100 per cent fit and did not want to let down his state or club, so he would be unavailable for both the Rabbitohs’ round 12 lash and Origin game one on Wednesday week.
”Mitchell cited his ongoing back issue for his unavailability, with Daley set to name his team tomorrow morning.”
Souths teammate Campbell Graham admitted Mitchell was “not 100 per cent” but Wayne Bennett gave a more optimistic assessment immediately after the Magic Round clash.
“No, he’s okay. Not too serious there. I think he’s just kind of cramping up a bit for next week,” said the Rabbitohs head coach.
When asked if Mitchell would be fit for Origin, Bennett responded: “I should think so.
“12-day turnaround, I think he’ll be right then.”
Billy Slater set to name surprise fullback
Billy Slater is reportedly leaning towards naming neither Reece Walsh nor Kalyn Ponga at fullback for Game 1.
In a shock report that emerged on Monday, the Maroons coach is rumoured to be leaning towards naming Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at No. 1, with Walsh off the bench and Ponga in the No. 7 jersey.
According to Code, Ponga will be named at halfback when the squads are confirmed on Monday.
The Newcastle captain has never worn the No. 7 jumper in his 150-game career but is reportedly leading the race to partner Cameron Munster in the halves.
Ponga has played eight of his 10 Origin games at fullback, with his other two appearances being off the bench as an impact substitution.
Code states that the fullback position hasn’t been locked in just yet, but states ‘The Hammer’ has “his nose in front”, with Walsh picked off the extended bench.
Walsh hasn’t been able to recapture the form that saw him take the Broncos to grand final glory in 2026, but it was believed it was a race between him and Ponga.
However, with Tabuai-Fidow starring in the No. 1 for the Dolphins and ripping the Blues apart at fullback when Walsh was knocked out by Joseph Suaalii back in the 2024 Origin series, Slater is reportedly leaning towards giving him first crack at fullback.
While in yet another Origin selection shock, Slater is reportedly set to hand Storm centre Jack Howarth his Maroons debut.
Gehamat Shibasaki was tipped to retain his spot but Howarth’s barnstorming performance against the Eels on Saturday night has reportedly swayed Slater.
It is also understood that Titans utility Jojo Fifita is set to be picked on a wing, along with Selwyn Cobbo, who lit up Magic Round on Friday night.
Both the NSW and Queensland squads will be officially announced on Monday morning.
