A recent football lunch had Sea Eagles legends Anthony Watmough, Steve Menzies, and Brett Stewart waxing lyrical about who among the current crop of NSW Blues they would most like to play alongside.
And ‘Choc’ Watmough, who played 14 times for NSW and enjoyed series wins in 2005 and 2014, had no hesitation in nominating Mitch Barnett.
“That’s nice to hear, especially from Anthony Watmough and what a player he was,” Barnett told NRL.com this week as the Blues squad for Game Three assembled in Sydney.
“He was someone I watched a lot of, so it’s pretty cool he said that.”
Barnett’s family hail mainly from Taree and Wingham on the NSW Central Coast and are mad Sea Eagles fans.
“My old man and my uncles all go for Manly,” he said.
“They’re all Manly tragics and one of them even lives at Manly now.”
If the tables were reversed, who would Barnett like to play with from past Blues teams?
“Well, Watmough now that you’ve mentioned it because I truly loved his no-nonsense game," he said.
“But in my time with Newcastle Knights I played with (former Manly utility) Jamie Buhrer and he spoke a lot about the fierceness of the Manly forwards. I would have loved to be amongst that.”
Barnett will need to conjure up that same 'mongrel' when he runs out onto Suncorp Stadium in the decider.
Mitchell Barnett Try
The Warriors prop will be calling Suncorp home next year after signing a three-year deal with the Broncos in April.
Barnett made his NSW Origin debut in Game Three of the 2024 series in Brisbane - just the third time in 40 years the Blues had been able to beat Queensland on their hallowed home turf in a decider.
“I remember the noise ringing in my ears. I’d love to replicate that win again,” Barnett said.
He was back at The Cauldron just a week ago as the Warriors battled a rampant Dolphins side in one of the games of the season.
“It was a tough loss in the end but credit to the Dolphins for getting there. And yes, Suncorp will be ‘home’ next year – the crowd last Saturday were quick to remind me of that," Barnett said.
“They were absolutely giving it to me on the sidelines, when I was off for a spell.
“They were Dolphins fans so not too interested in me going to the Broncos it seems.
“It’s a great place to play rugby league whether you’re on the good side or the bad side, so to speak.
“I’m just looking forward to the occasion on Wednesday. It doesn’t get any bigger than this."
- Don't miss a minute of the action when Queensland and NSW collide in an epic State of Origin decider. Live on Channel 9, 9Now and Watch NRL, Wednesday July 8.
