Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell is ruled out of game one of the State of Origin series due to a back injury, according to multiple reports. The outlets agree that Mitchell will not take part in the opening match, leaving New South Wales to consider alternative selections for the centre position. The injury is described consistently as a back problem, with the decision framed as a confirmation ahead of the Origin opener rather than a late game-time assessment. While the reports focus on Mitchell’s unavailability, they do not detail the precise diagnosis, timeline for recovery, or whether he is expected to be available for later matches in the series. With Mitchell sidelined, attention shifts to who will replace him in the squad and how that affects team balance for game one. The consensus across sources is clear: Mitchell is set to miss the first Origin match because of his back injury.