MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Latrell Mitchell is the type of player NSW need to level the State of Origin series

Queensland would be worried by Latrell Mitchell’s selection for NSW - and so they should be!

This guy is the ultimate big game player. If Trell is switched on, then those Maroons bloody well better look out.

He’s as strong as an ox but runs like a gazelle.

The last time Mitchell played in a State of Origin series was also the last time the Blues tasted success.

It was 2021 and Mitchell – along with another X-factor player in Tom Trbojevic – destroyed the Maroons in the opening two games.

He’s exactly the type of player NSW has lacked the past two years.

Someone who puts genuine fear into the opposition.

Queensland players now know they have a player standing opposite them who can come up with something they can’t stop.

A player who can come up with the special play when its needed most.

I like what I’ve seen from Latrell over the past few weeks, and it’s no surprise South Sydney are suddenly back in form.

Poor Broncos halfback Jock Madden would still have Latrell’s palm print on his chest, after he crashed through him for a try on the weekend.

If I’m the Blues halves at the MCG next week, I’d be getting the ball to Mitchell as early as possible. Give him space and get him involved.

He should be given a licence to pop up wherever he wants and watch him go.

Those Cane Toads won’t know what hit them!

The other thing Mitchell possesses is a huge boot. Some of those bombs he launched against the Broncos went so high they were a flight hazard. If someone was lucky enough to catch one, even the ball applauded.

Some people have said five changes suggests coach Michael Maguire has panicked after losing 38-10 in Sydney.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I believe this is actually more like the team Madge wanted for Game One.

Dylan Edwards comes in for James Tedesco at fullback – Edwards only missed the match in Sydney because of injury.

Mitchell Moses comes in at halfback for Nicho Hynes. I reckon Moses would have played in the series-opener anyway if it wasn’t for his foot injury.

Cameron Murray takes over at lock from Cameron McInnes. I feel sorry for McInnes, but he’ll get another chance. Murray’s come back from injury and is an automatic selection.

Connor Watson gets his chance on the bench. This guy is so versatile and can fill most positions. He is the Blues’ Mr Fixit.

We saw in Origin I how Queensland benefited from having Selwyn Cobbo on the bench instead of four forwards.

Mitchell was the other change, coming in for the suspended Joseph Suaali’i.

I’m very confident this NSW side can square the series and give us a decider at Suncorp Stadium.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

There are too many players milking/diving/staging to get penalties.

It’s become a major embarrassment for our game and no longer can we laugh at all those pathetic divers in soccer.

Because it’s happening right under our noses.

In my era we were taught to never show the opposition you’re hurt. That was what the game was built on. Get up and fight on.

Personally, I was always worried about Dad jumping the fence and putting a boot up my arse if I stayed down after a big hit!

These days players roll around clutching at their head or neck after the slightest contact, giving the Bunker time to check the replay and give them a penalty.

But I reckon I saw the solution to this farce while I was watching my old Sea Eagles beat the Dragons.

Their five-eighth Kyle Flanagan stayed down after a so-called high tackle from Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu.

The contact would hardly have knocked the skin off a rice pudding, but with Flanagan on the ground the Bunker intervened and gave the Dragons penalty.

Flanagan then regained his feet and was ready to play on.

But before play re-started, referee Peter Gough waved him from the field for a Head Injury Assessment.

Flanagan looked stunned and didn’t the big Brookvale crowd give it to him! They reckon he was playing for a penalty and now he was paying the price.

Even Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans gave him a few words as he went off.

To the surprise of no one, Flanagan passed his HIA and came back on 15 minutes later – by then Manly had the game all wrapped up.

I think this is the answer.

If any player is hit by a high tackle and stays down – injured or not – he has to go for a mandatory HIA.

Maybe Flanagan was dazed, I don’t know. I never got my medical degree.

But I can tell you this.

If players know they will automatically be ordered from the field for 15 minutes for a HIA, how many will lay down to milk a penalty?

Not one.