LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Matty Johns and David Riccio have urged the NRL to take action regarding Latrell Mitchell and Spencer Leniu's refusal to fulfill their media obligations during State of Origin camp.
There is concern that unless this issue is addressed, Origin 2 in Perth could be lackluster.
Reports indicate that Mitchell hasn't spoken to the media at all this year, as South Sydney aims to keep him focused on football, while Leniu has also avoided media appearances following an incident with Johnathan Thurston earlier this season.
These media bans during State of Origin camp have contributed to a disappointing buildup to the games, with the excitement for Origin 1 and now Game 2 seemingly lacking.
Riccio expressed his worries about the event's promotion, stating, "The NRL need to be careful with State of Origin, because what we saw in Origin 1 was the closest thing we've seen to an NRL game." He emphasized the critical role that media buildup and promotion play in generating hype, noting that the current atmosphere feels "so boring and so vanilla" without the participation of the star players.
Riccio highlighted that crucial talking points, such as Queensland's strategic decision not to kick off to Leniu in Game 1, remain unexplored due to the players' absence from media discussions.
He argued that "the game has a responsibility to ensure the actual superstars promote the game and sell the game," urging the NRL to reassess its approach to media commitments to enhance the excitement surrounding State of Origin events.