Mitchell Barnett (C). Photo: photosport
After missing the birth of his son just to train with New South Wales, Blues debutant Mitch Barnett feels he has no choice but to make the most of his shot at State of Origin.
The Warriors forward was a member of the Blues' extended squad for Game I and II but missed the delivery of his son Zane, who was born six days before this year's Origin opener.
Barnett made a rapid-fire trip across the Tasman to be with his wife, Clare, and newborn son in Auckland but not before completing his duties with the New South Wales squad.
"I had to leave camp to get back for the birth but I missed it. It was planned, but I had an obligation to help the boys - I trained here and got on a flight knowing I'd miss it," Barnett said.
"It was an opportunity and I had to be here, it was my first time being selected in the group. It'll make for a great story one day.
"I wasn't the only one who sacrificed stuff, all the boys sacrificed things. The fans probably don't see what NRL players do on a daily basis in terms of sacrifice. They move away from family and all that sort of thing, but it's a short career and you have to make the most of it."
Barnett spent part of his first day as an official Origin debutant organising a passport for Zane, with the family planning for the newborn and his two-year-old brother, Nate, to be on hand for their father's Origin debut at Lang Park next Wednesday.
Warriors captain Mitchell Barnett. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The 30-year-old's commitment to the Origin cause no doubt helped him land a bench spot for the decider, with Barnett making a point of doing all he could to help the side in the lead-up to the first two matches.
"[I focused on] being the best teammate possible. Whatever anyone needed, I was ready to do," Barnett said.
"That's something I live by, being the best teammate possible, whether that's playing or not playing. It was a new role for me but I just wanted to do everything I could to win."
That's the attitude that has Barnett playing career-best football at the Warriors, a process that began after he made the difficult decision to leave Newcastle for New Zealand two years ago.
Barnett was a solid performer during his seven years with the Knights but has taken his game to another level under Warriors coach Andrew Webster.
Even during the club's inconsistent 2024 campaign, Barnett's form has never wavered and the aggression he sometimes struggled to contain at the Knights has been controlled and channelled.
"A lot has changed. I got out of my comfort zone in Newcastle and moved to New Zealand, that's the biggest one," Barnett said.
"I matured, I probably started that process three years ago, and I have a good group of boys around me at the Warriors and a coach who believes in me. A lot of things have changed.
"It was extremely tough [leaving Newcastle]. But I needed it. I knew I needed it, but I didn't want to leave. The fans were so good to me there, my family was so comfortable, the rest of my family was only an hour and a half up the road.
"It was one of the toughest decisions I ever made but I'm so glad I did because I'm here today because of it."
Mitchell Barnett of the Warriors in possession. Canterbury Bulldogs v One NZ Warriors. NRL Rugby League, Accor Stadium. Photo: Photosport
Barnett has switched between prop, lock and second row for much of his career and will give Blues coach Michael Maguire greater flexibility on his bench as New South Wales look to wrap up the series.
Only two Blues sides have ever won a decider at Lang Park in 44 years of Origin football and it promises to be a steep learning curve for Barnett but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"They reckon there's no tougher place to get a win. My whole career I've done everything the hard way, so my Origin debut shouldn't be any different," Barnett said.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of going up there and getting the win."
Queensland side named
Queensland has recalled Newcastle stars Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai for the State of Origin decider, while NSW has started its camp with a minor injury concern for Bradman Best.
Kalyn Ponga playing for Queensland in last year's State of Origin. Photo: Photosport
Incumbent Queensland wingers Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi were both ruled out with hamstring complaints, which also made way for Selwyn Cobbo to return after missing Game II.
Cobbo and fellow centre Valentine Holmes will shift to the wings, making way for 33-year-old Gagai to return to the Origin arena at centre alongside Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
It will be the first Origin since the 2022 decider for Gagai and Ponga, who was named on the bench for this year's Game III.
Ponga was player of the match at fullback in his last outing as the Maroons bounced back from a big second-game defeat to take the series at Lang Park, just as they are trying to do this time around.
The Dally M medallist sat out the 2023 series over concussion concerns and missed the first two games this year with a foot injury, but returned in fine form as the Knights beat Canberra 16-12 on Sunday.
Maroons coach Billy Slater said it was a luxury to bring in three fresh faces with 38 games of Origin experience between them for the decider, but the team needs to improve on the field if it wants to rebound from the 38-18 demolition in Melbourne.
Queensland coach Billy Slater. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Back rower Jaydn Su'A, who played the opening two games of the series, was dropped for the decider, Slater elevating Kurt Capewell from the bench to a starting role rather than recalling damaging Gold Coast Titan David Fifita, who has been one of the most surprising omissions from the series.
"Dave was a serious consideration, but we feel the 17 players that have been chosen are the 17 players that have earned the opportunity to be here," Slater said.
"He's still working back to the standard that he created for himself last year, I'm sure he'd be the first one to admit that."
-This story was first published on ABC
