Blues' Latrell Mitchell to miss Origin opener against Queensland in Adelaide due to a calf injury

The Rabbitohs' star missed the entire 2022 series due to injury, but had been named to start for NSW against Queensland at Adelaide Oval.

However, the Blues put out a statement on Monday saying Mitchell had a calf injury and could not play — he will be replaced by 18th man Stephen Crichton, who will start in the centres.

The Blues said Mitchell had sustained the injury during training, and that scans had confirmed a calf strain. 

Mitchell did not travel with the team to Adelaide on Monday — Bulldogs centre Matt Burton will join the squad later today as the new 18th man.

When Mitchell last played in Origin in 2021, he scored four tries in three games as he helped the Blues dominate for a series win.

He has scored nine tries in 12 games for South Sydney this season, and Blues coach Brad Fittler would have been hoping Mitchell could bring his strike power to the side.

Now the question will be the severity of the calf strain, and whether he is available for game two at Lang Park on June 21.