Fittler’s leadership masterstroke the key to Mitchell’s remarkable Origin return

Latrell Mitchell’s arrival as a genuine superstar at Origin level warmed the hearts of league fans in NSW and was anything but an accident. His rebirth in blue was built on a foundation of inclusiveness and respect between coach, player and the NSW Rugby League. And it’s a tribute to Mitchell’s growing maturity and status in the game that he embraced his greater role and position in the team.

During his last Origin series in 2019, Mitchell was front and centre of a campaign to change the national anthem. While he bowed his head and did not sing during the lead-up to game one in Townsville on Wednesday night, he wasn’t the target of hate or extra attention as he had been previously.

Former referee and referees boss Bernie Sutton.

Oh brother

The NRL is very image conscious, so it is not surprising that the image to the right, which has been sent to leading Blues officials, has caused considerable angst among the game’s bosses.

For those struggling to identify the person wearing a Queensland team polo shirt, it is Bernie Sutton, who was the NRL referees boss until Jared Maxwell replaced him this year. Sutton is the brother of Gerard Sutton, who refereed the State of Origin opener on Wednesday.

The Blues were not impressed when sent the image.

In a concerning admission, the NRL admits it had no idea Bernie Sutton was working with one of the teams until 24 hours before kick-off.

“And we discovered it by chance,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said. “We weren’t aware until the day before the game when someone informed us that he was at Queensland training.

“I’m disappointed there was a lack of disclosure, but it is not uncommon for former referees to be used as consultants to clubs and Origin squads. It certainly didn’t impact the way Gerry refereed the game. I think everyone agrees Gerry had an outstanding game. We’ve certainly had no complaints about the officiating from either state.”

This column is not suggesting that Gerard Sutton was influenced by his brother’s association with Queensland, or that he even knew his brother was in the Maroons camp.

However, to say the teams had no issues with the officiating in the Origin series opener is incorrect. The penalty count was 4-all, but the six-again restarts went 8-1 to Queensland. That was a sore point among Blues officials.

Harry v Turbo II

Harry, of the “Manly Corso dash” fame, was delighted with the stunning three-try effort from Tom Trbojevic in the Origin opener. He watched the game with his mates at Harbord Diggers.

“He was insane,” Harry said. “I reckon I put him on the right track.”

As crazy as it sounds, Harry might be right on the money as Trbojevic swore off alcohol until the end of the season following his now-infamous race against Harry down the Manly Corso after a night of drinking. “To be honest, that’s not hard for me to do,” Trbojevic said in the sheds after Origin I where a few players were enjoying a cold one. “I’m not much of a drinker.”

For all Turbo’s success in his stunning return to the game, Harry maintains he is faster. “I’m up for a rematch at the end of the season if he wants one,” he said.

Daly grind

Hours after the worst loss in Queensland Origin history, Daly Cherry-Evans was walking through Townsville Airport with his wife and three children, and his arms as full as they had been the night before with Tom Trbojevic running at him. He had every right to be short with fans, but he stopped, talked and posed for photos with anyone who approached him. Even this columnist. I wanted to know about the tears I thought I saw in his eyes when the anthem was being sung.

“Tears?” he responded. “No, my eyes are just sensitive to wind. That’s all it was.”

Former NRL legend Paul Gallen and Justis Huni go toe-to-toe in Sydney on June 16.Credit:Getty

“I won’t talk about money or my earnings,” Gallen said. “I don’t know who is discussing what I can make or have made. What I will say is I’m the one who is putting my neck on the line and I’m not doing it to be a hero. I’m a prizefighter and I’m doing this to make sure my family has a good life. It really annoys me. You know we come into this life, everyone wills you to crawl and then walk and run, but then if you get good at something when you are older, people just want to put shit on you and see you fail. I know there are plenty of people who don’t like me and don’t like what I’m doing, but I don’t care. I’m in there swinging and I’ll do my best.”

Gallen will pocket as much as 85 per cent of the money from the fight at Sydney’s International Convention Centre as Huni looks to raise his profile and prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.

There is still the possibility Gallen’s biggest fight will be against Sonny Bill Williams.

“I’ve said all along that I’ll fight him,” Gallen said. “But I feel like I may have passed him by.”

Gould time had by all

An interesting corporate lunch took place at Canterbury League Club during the week where the guest speaker was Phil Gould. It’s interesting because the Bulldogs wanted him to be their general manager of football.

Gould made a huge impression on sponsors and guests on Friday but remains committed to the Warriors, where he is working as a consultant as the club looks to build around new coach Nathan Brown. Gould committed to the Canterbury lunch three months ago as a favour to club great Terry Lamb. Those who were at the event say Bulldogs officials are still considering how they can bring him to the club, even though he turned down their approach.

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