Latrell Mitchell may have eased Brad Fittler’s centres headache by ruling himself out of the State of Origin decider but the NSW coach must still decide whether to stick or twist.
Blues legend Andrew Johns thinks he will stick.
Mitchell made a strong NRL return for South Sydney on Saturday night against Parramatta but then surprised by withdrawing from contention for Origin III, having been absent from the Rabbitohs since round five while rehabbing a hamstring injury.
It still leaves Fittler with a trio of centres to choose from when he names his team on Monday, as the Blues aim to win a decider in Brisbane for the first time since 2005.
Fittler has rarely changed a winning side and would usually be expected to stick with the incumbent pairing of Canterbury’s Matt Burton and Penrith’s Stephen Crichton.
But the wildcard is Canberra’s Jack Wighton, who was one of the Blues’ best in the series opener and only ceded his place at left centre to Burton after catching COVID-19.
Burton thrived on debut in Origin II, with his kicking game relieving the pressure on Blues halfback Nathan Cleary, while Crichton enjoys a good chemistry with the Penrith-heavy NSW side.
Johns said he would pick Wighton to return via the bench ahead of Cronulla’s Siosifa Talakai.
“I think he’ll come back in (at the expense of) Talakai,” Johns told Network Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“I think they’ll keep the one-two punch of Api (Koroisau) and Damien Cook at dummy half.
“Jack was NSW’s best player in game one by a mile but unfortunately for Jack, Burton has gone in that position.
“Jack will be in the 17 somewhere. I doubt Jack could play on the right side (for Crichton) and I don’t think you can change that team.”
Picking Wighton on the bench would leave Fittler with just two forwards – Angus Crichton and Junior Paulo on his interchange.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, meanwhile, has suggested Wighton should walk straight back into the side.
Wighton was to play for the Raiders against St George Illawarra on Sunday, with Stuart claiming beforehand the five-eighth had done enough to earn an automatic recall at the expense of Crichton.
“I think they can move Burton across to the other (right) side and pull Jack into the left side,” Stuart said.
“I don’t think that’s a tough decision at all. I think it makes the team stronger to be quite honest.”
By George Clarke in Sydney
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