Are NSW placing too much pressure on Latrell Mitchell?

SEN’s Cameron Smith believes all the pressure is on the shoulders of NSW superstar Latrell Mitchell ahead of Game II at the MCG on Wednesday.

Mitchell was recalled to the Blues starting side for his first match since 2021 in which the 27-year-old played a starring role in the NSW series win.

Smith said he is concerned that the Blues’ hopes of extending the series to a decider is dependent on how well Mitchell performs in Game II.

“He has come into this footy side as if he’s going to save the NSW Blues,” Smith said on SENQ.

“That’s a lot of pressure on one person.

“Granted, Latrell loves the big stage and the big moments. More often than not, he does perform.

“There’s a lot of pressure on him at the moment because a lot of people are banking on him to come out, have a five-star performance and earn the victory for NSW.

“If you concern yourself with the one guy, those other players can damage in other areas.

“Queensland would’ve done their homework.”

The Maroons can clinch the 2024 series with a win on Wednesday night and claim their third consecutive Origin shield.

Smith believes his former side can achieve that if they dictate the speed in which the game is played.

“This NSW team is a far more dangerous footy side than the one we saw in Game I,” Smith said.

“There’s most definitely more points in it and it’s just a matter of how Queensland goes about their defence.

“If they can slow down the NSW middle forwards, control the speed of the ruck and give the Maroons defensive line an opportunity to get to the players on the outside, I think they’ll be ok.”

Game II will be held at the MCG on Wednesday night. Game III will be held at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.