'Bunker down': Origin coach sends stern Latrell message

Michael Maguire has left the door open for Latrell Mitchell to be selected in the NSW side for State of Origin – but he’s urged the Rabbitohs star to “bunker down” and “be in the right headspace” if he wants to represent the Blues.

The 26-year-old has had a tough start to the year at South Sydney, with the side winning just one of their first six games and sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder.

To make matters worse, Mitchell was hit with a three-game suspension for an elbow on Shaun Johnson in round five, limiting his opportunity to impress Maguire.

However, in a press conference 50 days out from the series opener, the new boss admitted Mitchell was still in the mix – but only if he can turn things around at Redfern.

Latrell Mitchell is at long-odds to earn selection for NSW.

“Everyone knows the capabilities of Latrell, but it’s about making sure he is in the right headspace,” Maguire told media on Tuesday.

“At the moment, one thing I know is that in big games, you need your focus right about where you are going. Souths are going through a tough period, but Latrell has a chance to bunker down and really help the NSW team.

“He has another couple of months where he can put himself into that shape, but Origin games are up there with the biggest games of your life.

“I want to see that focus from all the players, making sure they are in a good headspace and feeling good about where they are. That helps the make-up of your team.

“We need all our guys to be playing at their best, including Latrell.”

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Mitchell has crossed for two tries and set up two more across five matches, while also averaging 140 run metres per game at fullback for the Bunnies.

But with James Tedesco the incumbent No.1 and captain for the Blues, as well as Dylan Edwards pushing for a spot, it would be almost impossible for Mitchell to snag that role.

Instead, his only chance of representing NSW this year would be in the centres – and that’s another position jam-packed with elite-level talent for Maguire to choose from.

Stephen Crichton, Tom Trbojevic, Bradman Best, Kotoni Staggs and Izack Tago are all likely in the frame for a spot out wide for the Blues, while the uncertainty over Jack Wighton’s rep future could also be weighing on Maguire’s mind.

“I had the opportunity where you bring in quite a wider group just to talk around where you’re going with the team and look, I could have had probably 45 or 50,” he said.

“They’re not far between the talent, but it’s the character of the player that I’m really keen to learn and get a good understanding because building the character of the team is something that feels really important on where we are right now.

“You’ve got to have experience and one thing that as coach you know is that people can play to certain levels. Some are a couple of first grade games, some might be a seasoned player, some can step up into representative football.

“Some players can step up to another level and some people sort of sometimes struggle. It’s finding those right people that can step into this arena and getting the right balance.”

State of Origin kicks off at Accor Stadium in Sydney on June 5.