Origin Tracker: Mitchell out; Ponga happy to play halfback

Latrell Mitchell (NSW)

The Rabbitohs superstar ruled himself out of Origin I after aggravating a back injury in Friday night's match against the Dolphins.

Mitchell, who missed last week's defeat of the Sharks, came from the field seven minutes before full-time in South Sydney's 32-10 loss to the Dolphins.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett played down suggestions Mitchell was in doubt for the series opener after the match, but the star centre withdrew from Origin selection, as well as next weekend's match for Souths.

Mitchell advised Daley and Rabbitohs 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 clash and Origin Game One on Wednesday week.

Mitchell cited his ongoing back issue for his unavailability.

Kotoni Staggs (NSW)

Broncos coach Michael Maguire backed the Kangaroos centre as the man to replace Mitchell, despite not having played for two weeks due to suspension.

Staggs made his Origin debut for the Blues in the opening game of the 2022 series but was injured and has not played since.

However, the past 12 months has been the best of the 27-year-old's career, winning a premiership with the Broncos and representing Australia in all three Tests on the Ashes tour.

"If Kotoni gets that opportunity he will be ready to go," Maguire said. "He has had a bit of a break now and the rest has probably been good for him so he'll be going in fresh." 

Reece Walsh (Queensland)

Maguire also said he would select the Australian fullback in the Maroons No.1 jersey and rejected suggestions he looked frustrated in Sunday's 42-12 loss to the Warriors after reports that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow would retain the job.

Walsh had a mixed game, producing a line break and ran 132m with the ball but committed four errors and conceded two penalties, but Maguire said: "I know what Reece is capable of". 

Kalyn Ponga (Queensland)

The Knights superstar said he was happy to play halfback for Queensland if selected as Tom Dearden's replacement for Origin I.

With Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh also vying for the No.1 jersey, there is speculation that Ponga could play halfback - despite never having played there previously.

"I'll play anywhere for Queensland," Fox Sports. "Obviously I'm a competitor and I want to play fullback, but I'll play anywhere."

Cameron Munster (Queensland)

The Queensland captain is hitting his best form at the right time after leading the Storm to a 34-8 defeat of the Eels on Saturday night.

Munster's position as the Maroons five-eighth had never been in doubt but his form had been questioned - even by himself - as the Storm slumped to a club record seven consecutive defeats.

"He is probably his harshest judge to be quite honest," Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said. "He probably didn't have the start to the season that he wanted, and we wanted, but over the last month he has slowly but surely been building.

"He might have just been timing his run into Origin. He is just such an instinctive footy player and any team that plays against him has their antennae up for the unexpected."

Storm captain Harry Grant, the 2025 IRL Golden Boot winner, is another certainty for Queensland but the club could have their lowest State of Origin representation after a disappointing start to the season.

Heilum Luki (Queensland)

Cowboys captain Reuben Cotter, another certainty for the Maroons, urged coach Billy Slater to select secondrower Heilum Luki after the Cowboys impressive 18-12 defeat of Sydney Roosters.

North Queensland were without co-captain and halfback Tom Dearden and while all eyes at Suncorp Stadium were on Roosters playmaker Sam Walker, who has been touted as his Origin replacement, Cotter said Luki deserved a spot in the Maroons team. 

“He’s been playing some great footy over the past 10 week," Cotter said. "He’s a strong ball runner and keeps working in defence as well… he’d be hard to handle on the edge, so hopefully he gets that call up."

Luki had been widely tipped to make his debut after his form saw him called into the extended squad in 2024, but he's endured a tough run of injuries, including an second ACL injury that ruled him out of the 2025 season.  

Haumole Olakau'atu (NSW)

Sea Eagles players have backed strike secondrower Haumole Olakau'atu to cement a spot in the NSW side after another starring performance against Wests Tigers.

Olakau’atu scored a try, produced a try assist, three line-breaks and 11 tackle-breaks in 17 carries of the ball which yielded 260 run metres. 

“I think the Blues are kidding if they don’t pick him... what else does he have to do to be selected," Manly halfback Jamal Fogarty told Fox League post-game. “He’s been there before and the last six weeks he’s been destructive.”

Bradman Best (NSW)

The Knights centre has been ruled out of Origin I after sustaining a calf injury at training.

Best will miss Sunday's Magic Round fixture against the Titans and Newcastle medical staff anticipate the 2025 Kangaroo tourist faces three matches on the sidelines, with his return to play to be determined by his response to rehabilitation.

Best will commence a structured rehabilitation program immediately, under the guidance of the club's medical and high-performance teams.

Latrell Mitchell (NSW)

The Rabbitohs superstar has been ruled out of Origin after failing to finish Friday night's match against the Dolphins.

Mitchell, who missed last week's defeat of the Sharks with a back injury, came from the field seven minutes before full-time in South Sydney's 32-10 loss to the Dolphins.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett played down suggestions Mitchell was in doubt for the series opener with a recurrence of his back problem, but the club's medical staff reportedly advised NSW officials he would not be available.

Cameron Murray (NSW)

Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray was placed on report for a 'cannonball' tackle against the Dolphins but has not been charged by the match review committee.

The star back-rower was the third man into a tackle that knocked Tonga international Kulikefu Finefeuiaki off his feet and would have had a nervous wait for judiciary charges to be released but he is good to go if selected by Laurie Daley.

After missing last year's Origin series with an Achilles injury, Murray would have been devastated to be ruled out by suspension.

Max Plath (Queensland)

Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf backed the versatile forward to make his Origin debut after another strong performance in which he played the opening 20 minutes at hooker before moving to lock.

Plath scored a try, ran 118m with the ball and made 38 tackles as the Dolphins romped to their third consecutive win.

"I would love to see him get a chance, he has been outstanding for us,” Woolf said.

Dolphins centre Jack Bostock is being touted as a bolter for the Blues just three weeks after returning from an ACL injury and he enhanced his prospects with a strong performance opposite Mitchell.

Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow backed winger Selwyn Cobbo for a Maroons recall after scoring four tries in the last three games.

"I think he's ready to go back in that arena," Tabuai-Fidow said. "You've seen how he has played since the start of the year. His carries out of yardage and his run-metres show he's a special player and he's still got a long way to go too.

"I think with him going back into Origin camp, it will be a big confidence boost for him."

Blayke Brailey (NSW)

The Cronulla iron man missed Friday night's 38-16 defeat of the Bulldogs after his run of 139 consecutive games came to an end due to a concussion.

With the Sharks hooker vying with Sydney Roosters No.9 Reece Robson for the chance to make his Origin debut, there were concerns that Brailey has missed an important opportunity to push his case for selection.

However, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon rejected that suggestion and said Blues coach Laurie Daley was likely to already know whether he would opt for Brailey or Robson in the series opener.

"I wouldn't have thought missing this weekend would have anything to do with his selection process," Fitzgibbon said. "If you play 139 games straight you have a rough idea of whether they can play footy or not."

Fitzgibbon also backed prop Addin Fonua-Blake for Blues selection after the Origin eligibility ruled were tweaked to allow NSW or Queensland eligible players who have represented England or New Zealand to play.

Jojo Fifita (Queensland)

In-form Titans centre Jojo Fifita will be putting his best foot forward in Sunday's Magic Round match against the Knights,

"It's something I have striving for," Fifita told NRL.com. "A few of the boys are always calling me 'Smokey' at training, so there's always that chat there, but we'll just see what happens on Monday when the teams come out.

"I'm just keep trying to play the best I can. It's definitely a confidence booster for me, knowing that I'm (in the selection conversation). I think my form's gotten a little bit better than last year, so I think I just to keep growing and keep learning from this and you never know, hopefully we'll see what happens."

Fifita said the support of his coach and former Maroons centre Josh Hannay had also helped him find his best form. 

"I think Josh has definitely helped me with my confidence and hitting 70 games coming up soon, so I'm starting to get a bit of experience under my belt, so I think that's definitely a big booster for me.

"I think our pre-season; I became really confident out of that. We worked so much with Josh, closely as well, and with him being a centre when he was playing, it's definitely been something help for me along the way."