Bring on Perth: Why Toia wants another crack at Latrell
Robert Toia’s strong State of Origin debut for Queensland has revealed why he will have many classic battles with NSW star Latrell Mitchell in years to come.
Queensland centre Robert Toia wants another crack at Latrell Mitchell, and given the 20-year-old’s impressive State of Origin debut, he should get his wish.
The Sydney Roosters rookie was not daunted by the challenge of marking the NSW superstar and both players were outstanding for their respective sides in the Blues’ dominant 18-6 win in the Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium.
The rugby league world will wait with bated breath for round two in Perth on June 18.
Mitchell delivered a trademark big moment with a stunning catch and pass to set up Brian To’o for a try, but it was Maroons winger Xavier Coates who jammed in unsuccessfully to allow the try.
Toia did not cut loose himself, but he didn’t let Mitchell get the better of him either. He also delivered a trademark one-handed flick to set up the only Queensland try to Coates.
The Maroons centre spoke before the match about how much he had looked up to the two-time Roosters premiership winner Mitchell.
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After it, he was just glad he’d done a solid job marking the Blues beast.
“It was everything I expected to be honest,” Toia said.
“I was trying not to think about it too much, just do my job for the team.
“We didn’t really do much video on him. It was just about nailing our line speed and not giving a guy like Latrell any time and space. I had that in the back of my head.”
A big grin came over Toia’s face when asked if he was ready for “round two in Perth”.
“For sure,” he beamed.
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Toia, for his part, surely repaid the faith of coach Billy Slater on a night where he was a bright spot on an otherwise dark night for the Maroons.
“Billy’s reassurance was unbelievable, from the beginning of camp until the end. His constant reminders of why he picked me played a part in me trying to be the best I can be,” Toia said.
“I like to think I do belong in Origin. I like to back myself.
“I’d love to (get selected for game two in Perth), hopefully I did enough to have Billy reconsider me, but if not, I know the boys will be able to get the job done.”
It’s hard to imagine Slater overlooking Toia for the trip west. The coach was effusive in his praise for the young man.
“He was really good. I actually expected him to play like that,” Slater said.
“He’s been a pleasure to get to know him over the last week and a half. He’s a great young man, really humble and respectful. He values the parts of the game that are not brilliant, but that’s why he’s in this position.
“I thought his debut was great. So he can hold his head up high.”
Injury worries
Gold Coast are sweating on the availability of captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui after he was wearing the scars of battle following his return to the State of Origin arena.
The Maroons prop, who missed last season with an ACL rupture, had stitches in a badly cut left eye that had gone black after the 18-6 loss to NSW on Wednesday night.
Of concern was the swelling around his eye socket area. AAP was told the Titans skipper may require scans to confirm there is no fracture as he aims to line up on Saturday afternoon against his former club Melbourne.
“I pride myself on backing up from Origin. I intend to play,” he said.
“I hope to be back again (for game two of the Origin series) in Perth but first of all I want to perform for the Titans against the Storm.”
Fa’asuamaleaui won a title with Melbourne in 2020, and it is a match he always marks on his calendar.
Fellow Gold Coast and Maroons forwards Moeaki Fotuaika and Beau Fermor have been cleared to play at Cbus Super Stadium.
North Queensland quartet Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden and Reece Robson were also cleared of any injuries and should back up against Wests Tigers on Saturday night.
Brisbane had two players involved in Origin – NSW’s man of the match Payne Haas and Maroons lock Pat Carrigan.
Both were set for medicals on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday night’s away clash with Manly.
Haas battled a quad injury in the 10 days leading up to Origin, but still was the best player on the park in a remarkable display.
