Superstar Blues centre Latrell Mitchell says his sole focus is on helping his state win game two and not on teammate Spencer Leniu whom he called out on social media earlier in the year for his racial sledge towards Ezra Mam in Las Vegas.
Leniu was suspended for eight matches for the racial slur that was widely condemned by leading Indigenous players across the game, including Mitchell who called on the NRL at the time to make a statement with a monster ban.
“For me it’s about making sure Ezra Mam is all right. I think after the game … it’s stuff that shouldn’t be tolerated and rubbed out of the game,” he said back in March.
“I hope Peter (V’landys) and Andrew Abdo take serious consideration to the way this should be dealt with. For me it opens up a lot of wounds and scars for my people and my family. You do have to understand the way we feel.”
Leniu addressed the incident before his NSW debut last month, and Mitchell – who is back in the team in place of the suspended Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – wants to move on as well.
“That’s been dealt with by the NRL so we’ll leave it there,” he said on Monday afternoon.
“It’s all good. We’ve got a job to do for NSW so we’ll focus on that.
“I’m excited with the team that they’ve got. There’s a bit of an aura about it.”
The South Sydney star is back for what will be his first game since the 2021 series where he carved up alongside Tom Trbojevic, but injuries have plagued the pair since then, with the Blues losing the next two series.
Mitchell missed the entire 2023 series with a calf injury suffered in camp, and he made it clear on Monday that he wanted to focus on the present rather than what’s happened in the past.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot of things, and it’s made me more resilient and a bit smarter, but we go from there,” he said.
“Situations happen for a reason and I think the tides are turning.
“There’s footy there to be played, don’t get me wrong, it’s just how we do it this week and the bonds and connections we create.
“I’m already laughing at Jarome Luai’s jokes because he never takes anything seriously. That’s a positive. I’ve got Bizza (Brian To’o) on my edge so that’ll be a great connection having two larrikins.”
Mitchell was a shock omission from game one, with the explosive star’s form too good to ignore with Suaalii unavailable through suspension.
He caught up with NSW coach Michael Maguire on Saturday at South Sydney’s 10-year premiership reunion, but it was 24 hours later when he got the call and was told “you’re in”.
“It was yesterday on my birthday,” the 27-year-old said.
“It was one of the only presents I got so I was happy.
“I was with the family and I love being with my family, so having them listen in on it was pretty special.”
Blues fans are hoping Mitchell’s return can save the series, with the strike weapon desperate to dispel theories that he doesn’t care about the team.
“I do love it (the blue jersey),” he said.
“You (the media) can paint a picture, but I do love it.”