‘I don’t know why I kept away from Madge’: How Maguire unlocked Latrell’s ‘beast mode’

In the days leading up to the NSW team selection for Origin II, Latrell Mitchell popped into Michael Maguire’s home following a South Sydney training session. He’d been dodging the Blues coach for the best part of a month.

Why he was being so elusive with the NSW coach is a question even Mitchell struggles to find an answer for.

He’ll tell you there was a feeling he couldn’t shake. An unease about re-entering the Blues fold, whether his form warranted selection or not, based off prior experiences that left him feeling like NSW didn’t have his back when “shit hit the fan”. A “scapegoat”, as he put it.

So Mitchell, contemplating his Origin availability amid pressure from South Sydney fans and general rugby league pundits wanting him to focus on his club side, let a few calls from ‘Madge’ go through to the keeper.

“I was playing God,” Mitchell admitted in a recent interview with this masthead.

He wanted to play for NSW, but didn’t want to miss out on selection. Yet at the same time was happy to miss out on selection, because he was unsure if the environment would trigger a relapse in his constant battle to find clarity in his own mind.

Latrell Mitchell once again proved he belongs at the highest level.

Watching game one from the comfort of his lounge room, he found that clarity.

“It just gave me a bit of fire,” Mitchell said in the MCG dressing rooms in the aftermath of NSW’s 38-18 demolition of Queensland.

“I thought ‘I’m ready to go. I’m hungry’. I’ve always been hungry, but it’s always been about reigniting that. It’s my own fault. It’s my own doing. It is what it is now. Bygones be bygones.“

Downing a can of beer in the company of his partner in a budding bromance, Jarome Luai, Mitchell begins to question his own reluctance to play in the opening game of the Origin series.

Jarome Luai (left) and Mitchell in the midst of a budding bromance.

The South Sydney superstar was at his destructive and brilliant best in the series-levelling win at the ‘G’. He began to reflect on his meeting with Maguire, in whom Mitchell confided when the pair met just over a fortnight ago.

He told Maguire that he wanted to play in an environment where he felt people had his back. The coach assured him that he would. That he would have all their backs.

A few days later, Maguire – rather uncharacteristically – fired the “glass houses” sledge at Queensland on day one of camp. His defence of Joseph Suaalii was his way of showing that, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Mitchell felt what he’d be yearning for.

“Yeah mate, straight away,” he said.

This is my arena and I love it. We were on level 13 [at our hotel]. I was looking out at the MCG. I was dreaming about it for three nights.

Latrell Mitchell

“I sat down and went and had a yarn with him. We spoke about the tradition and the culture he wants to build. That’s what we have created in just one week since I’ve been here. The boys obviously had another week before game one, so they’ve built it. It’s transitioned into game two. It will be pretty special if we can do it in game three.

“I don’t know why I sort of kept away from Madge. The week I had was unbelievable. The connection was right there. I fit straight in. I don’t know what I was worried about. I just really enjoyed it. The job is not done, but I’m very happy to be back.”

It had been three years since Mitchell last played in the State of Origin arena. While most of the commentary surrounding his inclusion in the team this time around was positive, there were some who wondered if Mitchell may had lost his magic.

“They call me Magic Mitchell,” he fires back with the likeable arrogance that saw him bully the Maroons just an hour or so earlier.

“It comes and it goes. Media create doubt for me with fans and that space. My goal was just to prove myself right, no one else. I’ve proven a lot of people wrong already, I’m just here to prove to myself that I’ve still got it.“

Those inside the Blues camp spoke about the energy and positivity Mitchell brought to camp in game two. His ability to feel comfortable in his own skin triggered a performance for the ages.

“I’m just happy,” he said. “To get in that mentality again – that beast mode. This is my arena and I love it. I love being here. We were on level 13 [at our hotel]. I was looking out my window at the MCG. I was dreaming about it for three nights.

“I love playing with Dylan Edwards, especially. Romey (Jarome Luai). World-class players that have won three comps. Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin. These boys you look at and you understand why they are so successful. That’s because of the culture they have built. That’s what we’re trying to build here at NSW now. Build that culture again and keep NSW proud.”

Mitchell slams Queensland superstar Reece Walsh at the MCG on Wednesday.

There was a moment in the second half that had hearts in mouths north of the Murray. Mitchell had just picked up Maroons superstar Reece Walsh like he was a WWE wrestler.

“The old Batista bomb,” Mitchell jokes.

But, in a sign of maturity, Mitchell didn’t overstep the mark as has often been the case in a drama-filled career.

“That’s controlled aggression, I think,” he said.

“Reecey is electric, mate. You just have to get your hands on him. They call him ‘Reece Lightning’ for a reason. You have to hit and stick or he’s gone. You’ve got to get into him. He’s a special player. You have to make it known. Otherwise if you let him have the field, he’ll take it.”

There was another moment that he did slightly get it wrong, launching himself into Queensland winger Xavier Coates with a high tackle that saw him placed on report. In the end he escaped with a fine.

“My kids won’t eat for another month,” he joked regarding his growing list of fines for on-field indiscretions this year. “I’m nine grand in the hole, now.”

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