LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Latrell Mitchell has responded to questions surrounding his absence from the Kangaroos squad, revealing that he made the decision to step aside for "someone who deserves a crack" instead.
This comes after Mal Meninga expressed his surprise at Mitchell's unavailability for selection.
Meninga announced the 21-man squad for the upcoming Pacific Test Championships, which Mitchell was not a part of.
It has been reported that Mitchell is currently dealing with a hand injury that he sustained towards the end of the NRL season.
Despite this injury, he still managed to play at the Koori Knockout Indigenous carnival last weekend.
However, Meninga confirmed that Mitchell was unable to be selected for the Kangaroos due to the injury.
Speaking about Mitchell's love for the Koori Knockout, Meninga stated, "Knowing Latrell, he loves the Koori Knockout, he always gets involved.
A very proud First Nations person.
He has got through that tournament well and I look forward to him having a good off-season."
Mitchell himself addressed the situation on Instagram, stating that he was happy to step aside for someone else.
He emphasized his love for playing for his country, saying, "I play for my country because I love it."
While Mitchell's absence from the Kangaroos squad may come as a surprise to some, it is clear that he made the decision in the best interest of the team.
With his hand injury, Mitchell likely wants to prioritize his recovery and ensure that he is fully fit for future games.