By SCOTT BAILEY

Indigenous rugby league star Latrell Mitchell starred for the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the weekend as calls grew for him to be named in the NSW squad for Origin 2  to replaced banned centre Joseph Suaalii.

Blues great Andrew Johns said Mitchell was a “must pick” for the game.

“Latrell just has to come in – there’s no ifs or buts,” Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“There’s rumours floating around that something happened pre-camp that he didn’t talk to Madge or didn’t turn up or something. Who cares? Just get him in there.

“He destroyed them (Gold Coast) yesterday – he’s just got to be there.”

With Queensland taking a 1-0 advantage to Melbourne – and with game three in Brisbane – coach Michael Maguire has to carefully consider who replaces Suaalii in his side.

Mitchell was left out of Maguire’s first squad but after a five-star showing in South Sydney’s win over the Gold Coast on Saturday is positioning himself as a natural replacement.

AAP