LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Mitchell Barnett, co-captain of the New Zealand Warriors, has been named to start for New South Wales in the first game of the 2025 State of Origin series against Queensland, scheduled for May 28 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The 31-year-old, a veteran with 176 NRL games under his belt, made a significant impact last season by helping the Blues secure a series victory on his debut in the final match.
In 2025, he was honored as the Warriors' player of the year and subsequently made his Test debut for the Kangaroos, participating in all three matches of the Pacific Championships, where they triumphed over Tonga.
This season, Barnett has taken on the role of co-captain and has led the Warriors to an impressive position, currently standing second on the NRL table with an 8-2 record-matching their best start to the season.
Throughout the 10 matches played, he has consistently performed, averaging 144 tackles and 36 tackles per game, boasting a tackle efficiency of 94.99%.