Latrell Mitchell has had to exit training with the South Sydney Rabbitohs after just 30 minutes on Monday morning, revealing a torn calf.
Originally, he was set to return against the Parramatta Eels this weekend, needing only one match to demonstrate his fitness before Laurie Daley could consider him for a Blues call-up for the decider against Queensland.
While the exact grade of his injury remains uncertain, it's confirmed that he will be sidelined for at least a month, which means he will miss the remainder of the State of Origin series.
Mitchell was slated for a comeback from a back injury incurred at Magic Round, which had already kept him out of the first two games of the Origin series.
This season, he has only made nine appearances in 2026 and will now need to wait even longer to aim for a September run, with the Rabbitohs still in contention for the finals.
Reports suggest that Jack Wighton also isn't fully fit yet, while Campbell Graham is out, testing the depth of South Sydney's backline during this busy mid-season stretch.
The third State of Origin match is scheduled for just over two weeks from now, with team selections expected this Sunday evening. Given the Blues' struggles in the first two games, there were genuine expectations that Latrell Mitchell could have played, especially with the Rabbitohs facing Parramatta on Thursday night.